Merriam-Webster’s 2025 Word of the Year is “slop,” chosen due to a significant rise in searches reflecting public concern over low-quality, often AI-generated digital content, reflecting a desire for genuine substance amidst online noise.
The term, traditionally meaning soft mud or animal feed, now also signifies shoddy, inauthentic content, from political misinformation to fake online personalities, making it a powerful descriptor for the year’s digital landscape, according to Merriam-Webster’s president, Peter Sokolowski.
Why “Slop”?
AI & Digital Content: The word gained traction as a shorthand for the overwhelming amount of poor-quality digital material, much of it AI-generated, that floods online spaces.
Search Trends: Increased lookups for “slop” show people are actively seeking authenticity and recognizing inauthentic content, even using the term as a form of protest against digital junk.
Evolved Meaning: While it can describe literal messy substances, its modern usage points to deceptive or superficial online content, like “rage bait” or nonsensical AI creations.
Context for 2025: The year saw major news cycles dominated by issues like social unrest, online content regulation, and digital well-being, with “slop” capturing the essence of much of the discourse.
Examples include manipulated images, performative online kindness, and deepfakes, all falling under the umbrella of digital “slop” that people are weary of.