Looksmaxxing, vibe coding and cuffing season among 1,400 new Merriam-Webster dictionary entries

Merriam-Webster has added 1,400 new words and definitions to its dictionary, bringing a range of internet slang, technology terms and cultural phrases into its pages.

The new additions include “looksmaxxing”, a term associated with efforts to maximise physical attractiveness, alongside “parasocial”, “Rickroll” and “meme coin”. Other internet and cultural terms added include “glow-up”, “Mandela Effect”, “cuffing season”, “Sunday scaries” and “crashout”.

Technology has also influenced the latest update, with “vibe coding”, “AGI”, or artificial general intelligence, “compute” as a noun and “uncanny valley” among the new entries.

Food and lifestyle terms have also made the dictionary, including “superfood”, “cake pop”, “shishito”, “bao” and “chilli crisp”. “Yacht rock”, “neckbeard” and “shapewear” are also among the newly added words and definitions.

Merriam-Webster said the additions reflect words and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time. Its editors research how frequently terms are used and whether their meanings are broadly understood before adding them.

The dictionary publisher noted that a word does not make the cut simply because it becomes temporarily popular. Instead, it needs to demonstrate sustained usage across industries or regions, meaning an average adult is likely to encounter it and need to understand its meaning.

The latest additions arrive ahead of Merriam-Webster’s expected announcement of its 2026 Word of the Year. Last year, the publisher selected “slop”, referring to low-quality digital content produced, usually in quantity, using artificial intelligence.