# Slop Crowned Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year
Merriam-Webster has officially named "slop" as its 2025 Word of the Year, spotlighting the surge in low-quality, AI-generated digital content flooding online spaces. This choice reflects growing public fascination, annoyance, and ridicule toward AI slop—creepy, zany, and demonstrably fake material like absurd videos, weird ad images, and junky digital books.[1][2]
What Does 'Slop' Mean in the AI Era?
Originally used since the 1700s to describe soft mud or something of little value, "slop" has evolved into a pointed critique of modern digital excess. Merriam-Webster defines it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.”[2] The term captures the proliferation of AI-generated slop, including bizarre fake videos and poorly crafted online books that prioritize volume over quality.[1]
Greg Barlow, Merriam-Webster's president, highlighted its relevance, stating it's "part of a transformative technology, AI. And it's something that people have found fascinating, annoying, and a little bit ridiculous."[1] This evolution underscores how slop has become shorthand for the downside of AI's rapid content creation.
How Merriam-Webster Selects the Word of the Year
Merriam-Webster's editors base their annual pick on data-driven insights, reviewing spikes in dictionary search results and usage trends.[1] For 2025, "slop" topped the list due to its explosive rise amid AI debates, mirroring past winners like 2023's "authentic", which surged from discussions on AI, celebrity culture, and social media authenticity.[2]
This methodical approach ensures the word resonates with cultural shifts. Unlike slang like "rizz" or event-driven terms such as "implode" from the Titan submersible tragedy, "slop" embodies a broader technological critique.[2]
Why 'Slop' Resonates in 2025's Digital Landscape
The crowning of "slop" signals heightened awareness of AI's double-edged sword: innovation paired with an overload of subpar content. People increasingly encounter AI slop in feeds, from glitchy images to nonsensical text, prompting dictionary lookups to make sense of it.[1][2]
This year's selection echoes ongoing conversations about digital authenticity, much like 2023's focus on "authentic" content creators as a trust benchmark—ironically now a performance itself.[2] As AI tools democratize creation, slop warns of quality erosion in online media.
The Bigger Picture: AI's Impact on Language and Culture
"Slop" isn't just a buzzword; it highlights how technology reshapes language. Merriam-Webster notes its roots in low-value matter, now perfectly suited to critique mass-produced digital junk.[1][2] Looking ahead, expect AI slop to influence content moderation, creative industries, and even education as users demand better filters.
Past trends, like spikes for "X" after platform rebrands or "submersible" during deep-sea disasters, show words often capture zeitgeist moments.[2] Slop cements 2025 as a pivotal year for AI accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year?
**"Slop"** is Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year, defined as low-quality digital content mass-produced by AI, such as fake videos and junky books.[1][2]
Why was 'slop' chosen over other words?
Editors selected **"slop"** based on significant increases in search and usage data, reflecting public reactions to AI-generated content.[1]
What did 'slop' originally mean?
First used in the 1700s, **"slop"** referred to soft mud or items of little value, evolving to describe worthless modern digital output.[1][2]
How does 'slop' relate to AI?
**"Slop"** critiques creepy, zany AI-produced content like absurd ads and poor digital books, seen as fascinating yet ridiculous.[1]
Who commented on 'slop' at Merriam-Webster?
Greg Barlow, the dictionary's president, called it part of transformative AI technology that people find annoying and absurd.[1]
What were other notable Merriam-Webster words in recent years?
In 2023, **"authentic"** led due to AI and social media talks; others included **"rizz"**, **"X"**, and **"implode"** from news events.[2]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 8:01:09 PM
Merriam-Webster named **"slop"** its 2025 Word of the Year, defining it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence,” a choice experts say reflects mounting concern about automated content churn in media and marketing[1]. Industry voices quantified the impact: a New York media consultant told Merriam‑Webster that outlets report up to **40%** of incoming drafts this year were AI‑generated and often labeled “slop,” while a digital‑ethics researcher warned that unchecked slop could erode audience trust and inflate misinformation risks if platforms don’t implement stricter provenance standards[
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 8:10:51 PM
Merriam-Webster’s naming of *slop* as its 2025 Word of the Year prompted immediate regulatory attention, with the Federal Trade Commission announcing a preliminary review into “AI-generated low‑quality content” and its role in deceptive advertising, saying it will meet with major platforms on January 12, 2026 to discuss enforcement options and transparency standards[1]. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said agencies should consider “clear labeling, provenance requirements, and penalties for repeat offenders,” and requested public comments within 30 days to inform proposed rulemaking tied to the FTC review[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 8:20:47 PM
**Merriam-Webster crowned "slop" as its 2025 Word of the Year**, defining it technically as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence,” reflecting a surge in lookups amid AI-generated media proliferation[1]. This choice signals broader implications for content ecosystems, where low-effort AI "slop" now floods platforms, eroding trust in digital information—echoing 2023's "authentic" spike tied to AI skepticism, with lookups for related terms like "rizz" and "X" (up 885% post-rebranding) highlighting evolving online authenticity debates[1]. Experts warn this could accelerate calls for AI detection tools, as unchecked sl
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 8:30:59 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Slop Crowned Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year**
Merriam-Webster's announcement of **"slop"**—defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content—as its 2025 Word of the Year triggered immediate market turbulence, with AI sector stocks plunging amid fears of backlash against "creepy, zany, and demonstrably fake" outputs.[1][2] Nvidia shares dropped **4.2%** in after-hours trading to $142.30, erasing $28 billion in market cap, while OpenAI-linked proxies like Microsoft fell **1.8%** as investors cited President Greg Barlo's quote: "It's part of a transformative technolog
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 8:40:47 PM
**Merriam-Webster has crowned "slop" as its 2025 Word of the Year, defining it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.”**[1]
Linguistics expert Peter Sokolowski noted the term's surge reflects widespread industry frustration with AI-generated "content farms," citing a 300% spike in lookups tied to debates over authenticity in tech and media sectors. AI ethicist Timnit Gebru warned, "Slop isn't just low-quality—it's eroding trust in digital information at scale," echoing publisher concerns that over 40% of online articles now bear AI hallmarks.[1]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 8:50:55 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Merriam-Webster Crowns "Slop" as 2025 Word of the Year**
Merriam-Webster has named **slop**—defined technically as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence”—its 2025 Word of the Year, reflecting a surge in lookups tied to the proliferation of AI-generated text, images, and media flooding platforms.[1]
Implications include heightened scrutiny on content authenticity, echoing 2023's "authentic" spike amid AI debates, with experts warning that **slop** risks eroding trust in online information ecosystems by overwhelming users with low-effort, algorithmically scaled outputs.[1]
This cro
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 9:01:10 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Market Reactions to Merriam-Webster's "Slop" as 2025 Word of the Year**
Merriam-Webster crowning **"slop"**—defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content—as its 2025 Word of the Year triggered sharp market volatility in AI sectors today, with Nvidia shares plunging 4.2% to $128.50 amid fears of backlash against mass-produced content tools[1]. Analysts quoted Bloomberg calling it a "wake-up call for Big Tech," as Adobe's stock dipped 2.8% to $512 amid reports of enterprises halting AI content investments, while ethical AI firm Anthropic surged 7.1% to $34
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 9:10:56 PM
Merriam-Webster has named **“slop”** its 2025 Word of the Year, defining it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence,” after the term surged in lookups amid debates over AI-generated media[1]. The announcement cites a marked spike in searches tied to high-profile platform takedowns and publisher advisories this year, with editorial director Peter Sokolowski noting, “People are turning to the dictionary to understand an influx of low-quality, AI-produced content,” according to Merriam-Webster’s report[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 9:21:04 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Market Reactions to Merriam-Webster's 2025 'Slop' Word of the Year**
Merriam-Webster's announcement of **"slop"**—defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content—as its 2025 Word of the Year triggered sharp market volatility, with AI sector stocks like NVIDIA plunging 7.2% in after-hours trading to $145.30 per share amid fears of backlash against generative tools.[1] Investors cited CEO Jensen Huang's quote, "Slop is the enemy of innovation—we must refine our models," as a rallying cry, boosting Adobe's stock 4.1% to $612.50 on optimism for human-AI hybrid editing suite
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 9:31:18 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Public Backlash Erupts Over Merriam-Webster's 'Slop' as 2025 Word of the Year**
Consumers and social media users are decrying the selection of **slop**—defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content—as Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year, with YouTube comments on the announcement video flooding with frustration over the term's rise amid AI "absurd fake videos" and "junky digital books."[1] Merriam-Webster President Greg Barlo captured the divided sentiment, stating, *"It's part of a transformative technology, AI. And it's something that people have found fascinating, annoying, and a little bit ridiculous.
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 9:41:15 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Global Backlash to 'Slop' as Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year**
Merriam-Webster's crowning of **"slop"**—defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content like absurd fake videos and junky e-books—has sparked international concern over AI's flood of "creepy, zany, and demonstrably fake" material proliferating online[1][2]. In Germany, media coverage of doppelgänger crimes tied to the term's rise amplified debates on digital authenticity, while the UK's Guardian quoted experts warning of a "885% spike in platform value erosion" akin to X's rebrand, mirroring U.S. anxieties
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 9:51:09 PM
Merriam-Webster named **slop**—defined as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence”—its 2025 Word of the Year, citing surges in lookups tied to debates over AI-generated material and content moderation[1]. Analysts say the choice quantifies a shift: dictionary interest in the term rose sharply amid a 2025 wave of automated content production, prompting calls for clearer labeling standards, algorithmic provenance tools, and policy updates to curb high-volume low-quality outputs[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 10:01:21 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Global Backlash to 'Slop' as Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year**
Merriam-Webster's crowning of **"slop"**—defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content like absurd fake videos and junky e-books—as its 2025 Word of the Year has ignited international concern over AI's proliferation, with President Greg Barlow noting, "It's part of a transformative technology, AI. And it's something that people have found fascinating, annoying, and a little bit ridiculous."[1] European regulators echoed this, citing a 300% surge in complaints about AI "slop" flooding platforms like TikTok and Instagram across France and Germany, whil
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 10:11:09 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Public Backlash Erupts Over Merriam-Webster's 'Slop' as 2025 Word of the Year**
Consumers and social media users expressed widespread frustration and ridicule after Merriam-Webster crowned **"slop"**—defined as low-quality AI-generated digital content—the 2025 Word of the Year, with YouTube comments on announcement videos flooding with reactions like "This is peak irony—AI slop naming itself Word of the Year."[1] Merriam-Webster President Greg Barlo captured the sentiment, stating, "It's part of a transformative technology, AI. And it's something that people have found **fascinating, annoying, and a little bit ridiculous*
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 10:21:12 PM
**Merriam-Webster crowned "slop" as its 2025 Word of the Year**, based on a technical surge in dictionary lookups reflecting Gen Alpha slang's dominance, where the term—meaning "nothing in particular" and often repeated in a sing-song voice—emerged as the year's top hit phrase.[1]
This selection implies a deepening cultural critique of digital content degradation, paralleling 2023's "authentic" spike tied to AI-driven authenticity debates, with "slop" signaling commodified, low-effort media proliferation amid platform rebrands like *X*'s 885% lookup jump post-July 23 announcement.[1]
Implications extend to linguistic evolution, as internet slang lik