It typically takes years for such slang to find its way into reference books, but Merriam-Webster says it's just following the internet's lead: We're adopting this language online quickly, so the dictionary is learning to quickly make room for these oft-used, made-up words. Read on for definitions and uses so you can level up your conversational skills.
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New slang, old dictionary
Some of the words Merriam-Webster is adding have, admittedly, been in common use for over a decade: Zooey Deschanel arguably popularized the word "adorkable" when she began starring on the sitcom "New Girl," and "janky" has, at least in this author's experience, been a favorite descriptor among middle and high school students for years now.
And then there's "MacGyver," now a verb for fixing something with whatever you have on hand like the titular hero of the 1985 TV series, CNN reported. Better late than never, right, Merriam-Webster?
Here are a few of the new slang terms you'll find in Merriam-Webster (with definitions courtesy of the dictionary) plus examples, so you'll never have to worry whether you're being cringe for misusing these words.
Yeet (n.): An expression of surprise, approval or excited enthusiasm.
Ex.: I get to eat the cookies you baked before we eat dinner? YEET!
Yeet (v.) To throw something with force and without regard for the thing being thrown.
Ex.: I yeeted the quiz that I failed right into the trash can.
Janky (adj.): of very poor quality, or not functioning properly.
Ex.: My janky computer likes to restart itself in the middle of Zoom meetings.
Sus (adj.): short for suspicious or suspect.
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Ex.: Isn't it a bit sus that you never see Peter Parker and Spider-Man in the same location?
Lewk (n.): a fashionable look distinctive to the wearer and noticeable and memorable to others.
Ex.: "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" contestant Bimini Bon Boulash turned a lewk on the runway when she emerged in a Vivienne Westwood-inspired bridal corset.
Pwn (v.): to dominate and defeat. Pronounced like "own."
Ex.: I totally pwned my opponents in an epic game of tag yesterday.
Baller (adj.): excellent, exciting or extraordinary, especially in a way that is suggestive of a lavish lifestyle.
Ex.: It was very baller of you to share your lottery winnings with us.
Other odds and ends
These words aren't considered slang, but they also weren't accepted into the Merriam-Webster dictionary until now. You may not use these words in daily life -- how often are you talking about baby hedgehogs? -- but they're important enough to belong in a reference book, at least online.
Hoglet (n.): a baby hedgehog.
Ex.: I need to snuggle that hoglet while its quills are not yet pointy.
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Pumpkin spice (n.): A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice commonly used in pumpkin pie.
Ex.: Pumpkin spice lattes were once a harbinger of autumn, but now they appear on menus starting in late summer.
LARP (n.): short for live action roleplay, a game in which players reenact fantasy scenarios.
Ex.: I twisted my ankle during a LARP session in which I pantomimed riding into battle on a horse.
Level up (v.): Advancing or improving oneself as if you're playing a game.
Ex.: In her song "Level Up," Ciara implores us all to drop the haters holding us back and instead explore our full potential.
Metaverse (n.): A virtual environment in which users can access multiple virtual realities.
Ex.: In the metaverse, all I do is buy digital clothes for my avatar and talk to other users.
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