Looksmaxxing, cuffing season, vibe coding and more: US dictionary Merriam-Webster gets a ‘glow up’ with 1,400 new words

Merriam-Webster, America's oldest dictionary, has expanded its collection by adding 1,400 new words in response to their popularity on the internet. These newly included words span a range of topics and reflect contemporary usage. Notable additions include "looksmaxxing", "cuffing season", and "glow up". These terms, often used by Gen Z and Alpha communities, are defined to provide context and understanding.

Other popular internet words added to the dictionary include "parasocial", "compute", "vibe coding", and "superfood". The dictionary also added "cuffing season", defining it as the period when unmarried or unpartnered individuals seek short-term romantic relationships during colder months. Amidst the rise of artificial intelligence, the company included "uncanny valley", a term defining the unsettling feeling people get when artificial entities nearly, but don't, appear human.

Merriam-Webster's additions also encompassed food-related terms like "shapewear" and "superfood", reflecting current dietary trends. The dictionary's selection process remains private, but it continues to add new words based on frequency, popularity, and meaning. The company has not yet announced the word of the year for 2026, but guarantees to adapt its definitions as language evolves.