Merriam-Webster crowns ‘slop’ as 2025 Word of the Year
When a single word encapsulates a cultural shift, it often signals a turning point in how we interact with language and technology. That shift is embodied in the word slop, which Merriam-Webster has chosen as its 2025 Word of the Year. The decision reflects not only a linguistic curiosity but a broader conversation about the quality of content that floods the internet, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) systems become ever more prolific in generating text, images, and videos. In this article, we unpack the meaning of slop, explore why it has resonated with the public, and examine its implications for writers, marketers, and consumers navigating a sea of digital slop.
What Is Slop?
Traditionally, slop has meant a messy, unstructured mixture of liquids or a low-quality substance. In its modern, digital incarnation, Merriam-Webster defines slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” This definition captures the essence of a phenomenon that has become almost ubiquitous: the rapid, automated production of articles, social media posts, and other textual material that often lacks depth, originality, or factual accuracy.
The Rise of Digital Slop
Over the past decade, generative AI models such as GPT-4, Claude, and BERT have transitioned from academic curiosities to mainstream tools. Their ability to produce coherent paragraphs in milliseconds has opened doors for content creators, but it has also lowered the barrier for producing large volumes of low-value material. Digital slop manifests in several forms: auto‑generated news briefs, click‑bait blog posts, spammy email marketing, and even algorithmically crafted social media captions. Each instance contributes to a cluttered digital ecosystem where discerning readers must sift through noise to find reliable information.
Examples of Slop in Everyday Life
Consider the surge of AI‑generated product descriptions on e‑commerce platforms. A single algorithm can churn out thousands of variations of a product listing, each with minimal unique value. While this approach may boost search engine rankings, it often results in repetitive, shallow content that frustrates users. Another example is the proliferation of AI‑written news summaries that prioritize speed over accuracy, leading to the spread of misinformation or half‑truths. These examples illustrate how slop can erode trust in digital media, making it harder for audiences to distinguish fact from fabrication.
The Economic Incentives Behind Slop
For businesses, the lure of slop is clear: it is cost‑effective, scalable, and fast. A single prompt can generate hundreds of blog posts, product descriptions, or email newsletters, saving time and labor costs that would otherwise go to human writers. However, the quality trade‑off is significant. Low‑quality content can damage brand reputation, lower search engine rankings, and ultimately reduce conversion rates. As a result, companies that rely heavily on slop risk losing credibility and customer trust.
Why Merriam-Webster Chose Slop
In a statement released on December 4, 2025, Merriam-Webster president Greg Barlow explained that the choice of slop as Word of the Year is “illustrative of a cultural shift” toward an era where AI-generated content is pervasive. The dictionary’s selection signals a need for society to recognize and discuss the implications of slop. By giving the word a formal definition, Merriam-Webster encourages a more nuanced conversation about content quality and the role of AI in shaping language.
Slop as a Buzzword and a Warning
While slop has become a buzzword in tech circles, it also serves as a cautionary term. The word’s simplicity and negative connotation make it a useful shorthand for discussing the pitfalls of AI content. In academic papers, journalists, and even policy documents, slop has been used to describe the overflow of low‑value digital material that dilutes meaningful discourse. By naming slop, Merriam-Webster provides a linguistic tool that can be used to critique and analyze this phenomenon.
Impact on Content Creation and Consumption
For writers and marketers, slop presents both a challenge and an opportunity. On one hand, the abundance of AI‑generated text means that audiences are increasingly skeptical of content authenticity. On the other hand, it forces creators to prioritize originality, depth, and editorial oversight. High‑quality, human‑crafted content can differentiate a brand in a crowded marketplace, turning slop into a competitive disadvantage for those who do not adapt.
Search Engine Optimization in the Era of Slop
Search engines like Google have responded to the slop wave by tightening their ranking algorithms. Signals such as user engagement, content uniqueness, and backlink quality now carry more weight than ever. A 2024 study by the Search Engine Journal found that sites with high volumes of AI‑generated content experienced a 12% drop in organic traffic over the last year. This trend underscores the importance of quality over quantity and signals that slop is not a sustainable strategy for long‑term SEO success.
Ethical Considerations
Beyond commercial implications, slop raises ethical questions about authenticity, accountability, and intellectual property. When AI produces content that is indistinguishable from human writing, attributing authorship becomes murky. Moreover, the rapid dissemination of slop can amplify misinformation, leading to real‑world consequences such as public health misinformation or political manipulation. By naming slop, Merriam-Webster indirectly highlights the need for clearer guidelines and standards around AI content creation.
How to Combat Slop
There are several strategies to mitigate the negative effects of slop. First, content creators should employ human oversight to edit and refine AI‑generated drafts. Second, using plagiarism detection and fact‑checking tools can help ensure accuracy. Third, leveraging unique data, personal anecdotes, and expert interviews can add depth that slop typically lacks. Finally, transparency about AI involvement—disclosing when content is partially or wholly AI‑generated—can build trust with audiences.
Case Study: A Brand’s Shift from Slop to Substance
Tech startup CleanSlate, which originally used AI to produce thousands of blog posts, decided to pivot after noticing a decline in reader engagement. By hiring a dedicated editorial team and instituting a rigorous review process, CleanSlate reduced its content volume by 40% but increased average time on page by 75%. The company’s conversion rate improved by 30% over six months, demonstrating that a focus on quality can outweigh the temptation to produce large volumes of slop.
Tools for Quality Assurance
Several tools can help maintain content integrity in an AI‑heavy environment. Grammarly’s AI‑powered editing suite checks for grammar and tone, while Turnitin’s plagiarism detection ensures originality. For factual accuracy, FactCheck.org and Snopes provide databases of verified information that can be cross‑referenced. By integrating these tools into the content workflow, creators can reduce the risk of slop slipping into their output.
Future Outlook: The Evolution of Slop
As AI models become more sophisticated, the line between high‑quality content and slop may blur further. However, the human element—critical thinking, contextual understanding, and emotional nuance—remains irreplaceable. The ongoing dialogue about slop will likely influence policy, education, and industry standards. For instance, the European Union’s Digital Services Act includes provisions for transparency around AI‑generated content, which could set a global benchmark for responsible content creation.
Academic Perspectives
In a 2025 paper published in the Journal of Digital Communication, researchers examined the long‑term effects of slop on public discourse. They found that communities exposed to high levels of slop experienced reduced civic engagement and increased polarization. The study emphasizes the societal stakes of unchecked AI content production and underscores the importance of naming and defining slop in public discourse.
What This Means for the Future of Writing
The rise of slop is not merely a technological issue; it is a cultural one. As more people become comfortable with AI tools, the pressure to produce content quickly will only increase. Writers must adapt by embracing a hybrid model that blends AI efficiency with human insight. By doing so, they can ensure that their work stands out amid the slop that saturates the digital landscape.
References
- Merriam-Webster Word of the Year Announcement
- Associated Press Interview with Greg Barlow
- Ars Technica Article on Slop
- Search Engine Journal Study on AI Content and SEO
- Journal of Digital Communication Study on Slop