'Beast mode,' 'simp,' 'quiet quit' among 690 new words added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary
If you want to be considered "goated" by those around you, then you can start impressing them by familiarizing yourself with all the 690 new words that have been added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
The digital dictionary announced that it has updated its list to include new words and definitions that are nearly twice the number of new entries from last year.
"We’re very excited by this new batch of words," Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor-at-large, said in a release. "We hope there is as much insight and satisfaction in reading them as we got from defining them."
Merriam-Webster divided the batch into nine different categories, namely, Slang and Informal, The Digital World, The Analog World, Gaming and Other Screens, Culture and Society, Food and How It's Made, Climate and the Environment, Sports and Exercise, and Doing Business.
Among the words included in Slang and Informal is "rizz," which is used to refer to romantic appeal or charm. Also in the mix is "simp," meaning, to show excessive devotion to or longing for someone or something; and "goated," which is used to describe something considered to be the greatest of all time.
The renowned dictionary has also included abbreviations such as "ngl" (not gonna lie) and "TFW" (that feeling when).
New words that are mostly uttered by gamers are "nerf," meaning, to reduce the effectiveness of something in a video game; "speedrun," which refers to the attempt to complete a game as quickly as possible; and "rage quit," which is to suddenly stop participating in something in a fit of anger.
"Quiet quit" also made it to the list, and it's used to refer to the act of doing the minimum amount of work required for a job.
There's also "thirst trap" or a photo, video, or person that attracts attention or strong desire, and "girlboss," which refers to an ambitious and successful woman.
Here are the other words that have received the official stamp of approval from Merriam-Webster:
- doggo (noun) - dog
- bingo card (noun) - a list of possible, expected, or likely scenarios—usually used in the phrase on "one's bingo card"
- mid (adjective) - neither very good nor very bad
- jump scare (noun) - a scripted moment (as in a film or video game) intended to startle the audience
- ’grammable (adjective) - suitable to be posted on the Instagram photo-sharing service
- edgelord (noun) - someone who makes wildly dark and exaggerated statements with the intent of shocking others
- beast mode (noun) - an extremely aggressive or energetic style or manner that someone adopts temporarily (as to overpower an opponent in a fight or competition)
Merriam-Webster previously added 370 words and terms back in September last year, which include "sus," "yeet," and "cringe."