Do you ever think your vocabulary might need a bit of a boost? Get set for an adventure in words as dictionaries all over the world have recently added a ton of new words. Letโs take a deep dive into all the new words added to the dictionary and have the time of our lives!
Weโre talking about up-to-the-minute slang and the latest social media terminology โ itโs as if the dictionary has been on a major word hunt and returned with the hippest lingo out there. So, ready to explore this list of unconventional words? Letโs get started then!
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18 New Words Added To The Dictionary
1. Adorkable
This is one of my personal favourites when it comes to this list of unconventional words.
Since the pandemic hit, it seems like weโre all a bit more awkward than usual. But donโt worry, the internet has given us a name to make us feel good about our social fumbles: โadorkable.โ
Think of those charmingly clumsy people whoโd rather hide out than chat at a party. Those folks are the perfect example of being adorkable. So if you ever mess up what youโre saying or stumble while walking, just own it โ thatโs your adorkableness showing.
2. Beast mode
If youโre planning to kill it in the gym or start a tough do-it-yourself project, youโre ready to switch on beast mode. The dictionary says this means youโre super-aggressive and full of energy, like athletes who need to beat their rivals.
Picture a wrestler ready for battle or a builder taking on big jobs with unstoppable willpower. Itโs all about finding your raw power to face any obstacles ahead. Time to power up your inner beast!
3. Chefโs Kiss
Sometimes a dish is so good that just describing it doesnโt do justice. Instead, the gesture known as a chefโs kiss says it all. But how do you properly heap the highest praise on a meal?
Merriam-Webster says to kiss the tips of one handโs fingers and then fling them outwards. And this word is not just limited to food only, you can use this for anything that blows your mind away.
4. Cromulent
This word comes from none other than The Simpsons. Surprised? Cromulent means something that is good enough or satisfactory. Hereโs a cool tidbit from pop culture: It isnโt the only word from The Simpsons to make it into the dictionary.
The word embiggen, meaning โto make bigger or more extensive,โ snagged a spot in the list of unconventional words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2018.
5. Climate Anxiety
Our world is grappling with growing ecological troubles, and a lot of folks are really feeling the pressure. Say hello to โclimate anxiety,โ one of the new words added to the dictionary.
This word defines the mixture of tension, dread, and concern felt about climate changeโs scary consequences. Think about the seas rising or the weather going wild; thereโs no doubt these environmental problems has hit many of us hard emotionally and mentally.
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6. Doggo
These days, calling your dog a dog or โmanโs best friendโ just doesnโt cut it. People love to give their furry companions cute nicknames. Thatโs where the term โdoggoโ comes in handy.
Fun fact: Back in the early 1800s, โdoggoโ meant staying still and quiet so others wouldnโt notice you โ similar to what some dogs do when they sleep. Today, we all love using this word for our pups.
7. Doomscrolling
One of the most interesting new words added to the dictionary is this.
Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through endless bad news on the internet? That habit is what we call โdoomscrollingโ. Itโs like falling into a pit of endless negativity, where one click leads to another disheartening story.
Whether itโs about the latest health crisis or political chaos, doomscrolling captures the harmful routine of reading more and more upsetting content on our devices.
8. Finsta
At times, all you want is to chill on social media anonymously, or to join online groups without it defining you. Thatโs where a finsta comes into play โ itโs a hidden account on Instagram. Puzzled by the term? Take a closer peek: it blends โfakeโ with โInstaโ.
9. Goated
One of the most widely used new words added to the dictionary.
โGoatedโ comes from โGOATโ, which stands for โgreatest of all time.โ Itโs basically a thumbs-up for someone whoโs smashing it in their career. Imagine it as todayโs way to tip your hat to someoneโs awesomeness.
Keep in mind, this is for laid-back conversations, messages, or just joking around online. So when your buddy gets that perfect basketball score or makes an amazing dinner, toss a cool โgoatedโ their way!
10. ICYMI
ICYMI stands for โin case you missed itโ, and is used as an indication to help someone catch up with the latest scoop. Itโs particularly useful if you are shooting off a quick mail and want the other person to be update about whatโs happened before.
Itโs more of a friendly gesture on your part where youโre taking the initiative of keeping someone in the loop, in case they have missed out on it.
11. Janky
Janky is used to describe stuff that is not of very good quality. Be it a faulty website or a defective knee-joint that just doesnโt allow you to run, the message it sends home is this: itโs cheap.
Imagine something being held together simply by duct tape and your prayers โ thatโs what janky stands for. So, next time you find yourself in a sticky situation, just say, โWell, yup itโs pretty jankyโ.
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12. Jorts
Another one of the new words added to the dictionary thatโs fast gaining popularity is โjortsโ. Jorts is a combination of the words jeans and shorts, and is a popular outfit choice amongst young people these days.
Instead of sticking to the more traditional โjean shortsโ, this word is taking the fashion world by storm, because of the genius way the word has been created.
13. Nepo Baby
One of the most viral and used words these days has naturally earned a place in the list of new words added to the dictionary.
Nepo babies are the kids of celebrities, superstars and rich people. Born with fame and fortune thanks to their superstar parents, they get a nice head start in the industry. Theyโre often accused of exploiting their parentsโ connections and name for moving forward in life,
Nepo babies can be found anywhere from Hollywood to the music scene. They know how to leverage their mom or dadโs name to score gigs and endorsements. Talent is cool, but connections will take you far too right?
14. Polyromantic
In the list of unconventional words, this word has to be there for sure. People who are polyromantic are attracted to various genders, but might not be attracted to the people of all genders.
Itโs like having a diverse romantic palette, but with certain preferences sprinkled in here and there. Love is love for everyone no matter who it lands on!
15. Rizz
Rizz was the word of the year by Oxford Dictionary in 2023. Rizz is used for someone who has a lot of charm and romantic appeal. They are the ones who know exactly how to make people fall in love with them.
They can charm your pants off and steal your heart without blinking. Because it was the word of the year by Oxford Dictionary, itโs popularity has grown even more these days especially on social media.
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16. Thirst Trap
Thirst traps are those pictures that are more about turning heads than capturing memories; pictures where you are trying to be your sexiest best and look absolutely sensational.
Weโre talking those sultry selfies or steamy videos that scream โlook at me!โ Thirst traps are increasingly becoming very popular especially on social media, with celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Barry Keoghan raising the temperature with their photos.
17. Tiny House
Tiny homes are those homes which are typically not bigger than 500 square feet, and are usually designed to be space-efficient and ergonomic. Instagram and Pinterest are filled with these tiny, beautiful homes and these are the rage now.
Gone are those days when people dreamed of owning huge mansions, tiny homes is what they dream of now.
18. Zhuzh
When you need a little something to elevate a dish, thatโs when you โzhuzhโ it up. Making small improvements and adjustments to make something better is what zhuzh is all about.
Be it adding a little bit of glitter to your scented candles or adding a dash of caramel syrup to your everyday coffee, zhuzh is the name of the game and one of the most interesting words in this list of unconventional words.
Related: Can We Guess Your Age By Your Vocabulary and The Way You Speak?
So, these are all the new words added to the dictionary, including the word of the year by Oxford Dictionary. Which of these words do you use a lot yourself? Let us know in the comments down below!
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