If your vocabulary includes “looksmaxxing,” “cuffing season” and “trash panda,” congratulations: You’re now speaking dictionary-approved English. Last week, Merriam-Webster announced that it had added 1,400 words and definitions to its online dictionary. The newcomers range from artificial intelligence terminology and Internet slang to food, fashion and feelings. Some of the most attention-grabbing additions began in online communities. “Looksmaxxing” refers to efforts to improve one’s physical appearance, sometimes through extreme or dangerous measures. The dictionary also welcomed “meme coin,” a cryptocurrency whose value is driven by Internet culture, social media hype, and community sentiment rather than practical financial fundamentals. Plenty of the additions describe experiences that happen away from a screen. “Cuffing season” is the colder part of the year when single people may begin seeking short-term romantic partners. “Sunday scaries” refers to the anxiety or dread that can arrive as the weekend ends and the workweek approaches. Other additions include “yacht rock,” “shapewear,” “promposal,” “glow-up” and “Mandela Effect,” along with “trash panda,” the affectionate nickname for a raccoon. A word can circulate for years before dictionary editors determine that enough people use it consistently and agree on what it means. So, whether you’re fighting the Sunday scaries or watching a trash panda raid the garbage, at least you know what those terms mean now.
