Merriam-Webster has added 1,400 new words and definitions to its online dictionary, and the internet’s weirdest corners are suddenly official. The update, announced on September 15, reflects terms and meanings that have “demonstrated widespread use over time.”
Among the new entries is “looksmaxxing,” the practice of taking “sometimes extreme or dangerous measures” to improve physical attractiveness. The term owes its rise to viral creators like Clavicular, whose content pushed the trend into the mainstream. It has even inspired a body horror short film starring God of War actor Sunny Suljic.
“Rickroll” has also finally made the cut. Merriam-Webster defines the classic internet prank as tricking someone into listening to Rick Astley’s 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up. Rickrolling remains a staple of online culture, and it even showed up in Payday 3 — developers hid Rickroll links inside the game in 2023.
Meme Coin and the Crypto Craze
“Meme coin” joins the dictionary as an altcoin typically created as a humorous tribute to an internet meme or celebrity, usually having “no real utility.” The term has become unavoidable as influencers and public figures launch their own cryptocurrencies. Earlier this month, Hunter Biden used Andrew Callaghan’s Channel 5 mailing list to launch a meme coin.
The definition captures the absurdity of the whole phenomenon. These coins exist to be funny, and the dictionary now admits it.
Copium and the Gaming Slang
“Copium,” a combination of “cope” and “opium,” is now officially defined as denial or minimization of an unfavorable situation imagined as a narcotic. The slang has long been popular in gaming communities, including among GTA fans searching for clues before official announcements.
“Crashout” also received several definitions, including a mental or emotional breakdown and an emotional outburst or tantrum. The word previously appeared on a viral TikTok “brain rot” slang list alongside phrases such as “mogging” and “cooked.”
Sunday Scaries and the Weekend Blues
“Sunday scaries” describes the anxiety or sadness caused by realizing the weekend is almost over. The dictionary is now recording that dread.
The Rest of the Update
Other additions include “vibe coding,” “parasocial,” “AGI,” “uncanny valley,” “cuffing season,” “California sober,” “trash panda” and “Mandela Effect.” These are the words that float through conversation and suddenly appear in headlines, and now they appear in the dictionary too.
Why These Words Earned Their Place
The dictionary’s job is to document language, not to police it. A word earns its place by being used widely enough that people need to know what it means. That is a low bar, but it is the right one.
“Rickroll” is a perfect example. It has been a staple of online culture since the 2000s, and it remains a staple today. Payday 3 hid Rickroll links in 2023, and the prank lives on. The dictionary has finally caught up.
The same logic applies to “looksmaxxing.” The trend is extreme, and the dictionary documents that extremity. It is a definition that acknowledges the danger in the pursuit of beauty, which is a fair assessment of a movement built on sometimes extreme or dangerous measures.
“Meme coin” is a newer entry, but it is already everywhere. Influencers launch their own cryptocurrencies, and the term has become unavoidable. The dictionary’s definition captures the irony: these coins are created as humor, and they typically have no real utility. That is the whole point.
“Copium” is a gaming term that has spread beyond its original community. The dictionary is now recording it as a word for denial imagined as a narcotic. It is a precise definition for a very specific feeling, and it belongs in the record.
What This Update Says About Language
The update is a snapshot of where language is right now. Words come and go, and the dictionary is here to keep track of them. The new entries are a mix of memes, pranks, trends and slang, and they all share one quality: they are used widely enough that people need to know what they mean.
The update is a reminder that language is alive. Words come and go, and the dictionary is here to keep track of them. The new entries are a mix of memes, pranks, trends and slang, and they all share one quality: they are used widely enough that people need to know what they mean.
Key Facts Box
– 1,400 new words and definitions added to Merriam-Webster online dictionary
– Announced September 15
– “Rickroll” defined as tricking someone into listening to Rick Astley’s 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up
– “Looksmaxxing” defined as taking sometimes extreme or dangerous measures to improve physical attractiveness
– “Meme coin” defined as an altcoin created as a humorous tribute to an internet meme or celebrity with no real utility
– “Copium” defined as denial or minimization of an unfavorable situation imagined as a narcotic
The update is a snapshot of where language is right now. Words come and go, and the dictionary is here to keep track of them. The new entries are a mix of memes, pranks, trends and slang, and they all share one quality: they are used widely enough that people need to know what they mean.
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