© 2025 Thomson Reuters
A musician performs in the mostly empty Sloppy Joe’s bar following Hurricane Irma in Key West, Florida
(New York, NY) — The word “slop” has been crowned Word of the Year by Merriam-Webster. The pick for Word of the Year is based on a significant increase in searches and the year’s trends. Once used casually to describe something messy or low-quality, “slop” has taken on a sharper meaning in the age of AI and algorithm-driven content. It’s now shorthand for the flood of cheaply made, low-effort-material-often AI-generated- that clogs social media feeds, news sites and audio platforms. The word resonates because it cuts through the tech jargon and lands where people actually live, like scrolling and sighing.
“Slop” reflects a growing public fatigue with content that feels soulless, repetitive and designed purely to chase clicks rather than inform or entertain. Its rise as Word of the Year says less about vocabulary and more about values: people are craving fewer shortcuts, more originality and content that actually feels human.
