Merriam-Webster has added 1,400 new words and definitions to its online dictionary, embracing slang widely used in social media, technology, and modern culture. The Springfield, Massachusetts-based publisher announced on Tuesday, September 22, that the new entries reflect words that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering a window into contemporary culture. America's oldest dictionary company added terms that drive major digital culture, including looksmaxxing, parasocial, glow up, rickroll, meme coin, and promposal. Looksmaxxing refers to taking extreme measures to improve physical appearance, while parasocial describes a one-sided psychological connection to a public figure.

Glow-up denotes a dramatic personal enhancement, and rickroll is the internet prank redirecting users to Rick Astley's 1987 music video. Artificial intelligence terms such as vibe coding, AGI (artificial general intelligence), and a new noun form of compute were also included. Food-related additions feature superfood, cake pop, shishito, bao, and chili crisp, alongside relationship slang like cuffing season, Sunday scaries, crashout, copium, California sober, and yacht rock.

Other notable entries include the Mandela effect, trash panda, shapewear, neckbeard, and a digital definition for letterboxing. Merriam-Webster stressed that words are not added simply for going viral, requiring sustained, widespread use across industries before official inclusion.

The company's lexicographers constantly monitor evolving language patterns across diverse digital platforms, news publications, and social media trends. This rigorous evaluation process ensures that only culturally significant and enduring terms earn a permanent place in the authoritative reference work.