Merriam-Webster Names AI Content "Slop" Word of the Year

The term "slop" has been chosen by Merriam-Webster as the defining word for 2025, characterizing the surge of low-quality, AI-generated digital content. This designation highlights a significant trend where artificial intelligence is producing vast amounts of material, often lacking in originality or quality.

As this digital "slop" saturates the internet, various online platforms are responding differently. Key sites such as YouTube, Wikipedia, Spotify, and Pinterest have implemented measures to combat its pervasive influence. Conversely, companies like Meta and OpenAI are actively developing and promoting applications centered on AI-generated video streams, indicating a divided industry response.

Merriam-Webster noted the visceral negative connotation of "slop," likening it to "slime, sludge, and muck," to convey a sense of rejection towards AI's attempts to supplant human creativity. Other notable terms reflecting 2025's discourse included "touch grass," "tariff," "performative," and "gerrymander."