In a recent development, the term “slop” has gained notoriety for representing fake and bizarre content, especially prevalent online. This surge in usage led to it being named the word of the year for 2025 by Merriam-Webster. According to Greg Barlow, the president of Merriam-Webster, “slop” is a fitting term that encapsulates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which has both fascinated and exasperated people due to its creation of low-quality digital content in large quantities.
Originally denoting soft mud in the 1700s, “slop” has evolved to describe anything of little value and now encompasses “digital content of low quality produced in bulk through artificial intelligence.” Examples of such content include absurd videos, strange advertising visuals, misleading propaganda, realistic-looking fake news, and poorly written AI-generated books.
The proliferation of AI video generators like Sora has impressed many with their ability to swiftly create lifelike videos based solely on text inputs. However, the widespread dissemination of such content on social media, including manipulated clips featuring celebrities and deceased public figures, has raised concerns about misinformation, deepfakes, and copyright infringement.
While this type of content has existed online for some time, its accessibility has increased, leading to its use by various individuals, including political figures, for their own agendas. For instance, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently shared an altered image of a beloved cartoon character as a military combatant to justify U.S. actions in Venezuela, sparking outrage among social media users and drawing condemnation from the original book publisher.
Despite instilling apprehension in some, Barlow believes “slop” also signifies hope as the heightened interest in the term mirrors a growing awareness of fake or substandard content, indicating a desire for authenticity and genuineness in online interactions. This trend reflects a defiance toward AI’s attempt to supplant human creativity, highlighting instances where AI’s intelligence seems lacking.
Merriam-Webster’s selection of the word of the year is part of a longstanding tradition that aims to capture the essence of the current socio-cultural landscape. By analyzing search data and usage trends, the dictionary editors identify a word that encapsulates the prevailing themes of the year. In 2024, following the U.S. presidential election, “polarization” was chosen as the word of the year, reflecting the societal division at that time.
Additionally, the dictionary recognized other frequently searched words in 2025, such as “performative,” “gerrymander,” and the enigmatic term “6-7,” which surged in popularity during the summer. While “6-7” remains ambiguous in meaning, stemming from a 2024 song by rapper Skrilla, it gained widespread attention on social media platforms.
The year also saw an uptick in searches for “gerrymander,” as both political parties in the U.S. sought to redraw electoral districts to their advantage. Furthermore, the term “performative” saw increased interest, particularly in the context of performative masculinity online, where individuals feign interest in women’s preferences to gain trust.
Lastly, several other notable words, including “tariffs,” “touch grass,” “conclave,” and the tongue-twisting name of a Massachusetts lake, “Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg,” received honorable mentions. These terms reflect a diverse range of cultural, political, and social phenomena that shaped language usage and public discourse in 2025.
