The American explanatory dictionary Merriam-Webster announced that the main word of 2025 is the term “slop,” which in the modern digital context describes low-quality content created with the help of artificial intelligence.
“Slop,” according to the compilers of the dictionary, represents “low-quality digital content” that is usually mass-produced with automated systems. This reflects the changes in 2025 when social networks were filled with absurd videos, strange advertising images, fake news, and other content created by neural networks.
The company notes that this term perfectly defines the phenomenon of large-scale content generation from AI, which influenced the information field last year, confirming the ability of the English language to briefly and clearly describe modern phenomena.
The editors of Merriam-Webster also highlighted other words that gained popularity in 2025, including:
- Touch grass — a call to step away from the screen and go outside.
- Gerrymander — manipulation with electoral districts.
- Tariff — an economic term.
- Conclave.
Interestingly, the list also includes the longest lake name in the USA — Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. Interest in it was sparked by the popular gaming platform Roblox, which included a location with this name.
Simultaneously, the compilers of the Oxford Dictionary identified another word of the year — “rage bait,” which refers to content created to trigger anger in order to increase reach.
| Year | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Slop | Low-quality digital content created by AI |
| 2025 | Touch grass | A call to step away from the screen, go into the real world |
| 2025 | Rage bait | Content designed to trigger anger for increased reach |
