Merriam-Webster has declared “slop” its 2025 Word of the Year, highlighting growing concern over the spread of low-quality, AI-generated content across the internet.
The dictionary publisher said the term reflects rising unease with digital writing that appears polished and fluent but lacks depth, originality or clear human voice.
Merriam-Webster noted a significant increase in user searches for the word as public debate intensifies around artificial intelligence and automated content creation.
Historically, “slop” referred to liquid waste, mud or unappetising mixtures, but it has been repurposed to describe mass-produced digital material.
In its modern usage, the term captures writing that is technically correct yet emotionally flat, repetitive and devoid of meaningful insight.
Observers say AI-generated slop often includes articles, captions, summaries and explainers that prioritise clarity and structure over substance.
Such content is typically grammatically sound, cautiously worded and confident in tone regardless of the depth of information provided.
Critics argue that this material overwhelms the web, making it harder for readers to distinguish thoughtful work from automated output.
Commentators also say slop contributes to reader fatigue by flooding platforms with content that looks complete but feels oddly unfinished.
Supporters of AI-generated writing counter that similar patterns have long existed in human-produced content and that automation lowers creative barriers.
Merriam-Webster said the word’s selection reflects a broader cultural shift from scarcity of information to overwhelming abundance.
Analysts note that AI tools enable content to be produced rapidly and at massive scale, accelerating this transformation.
The term also underscores concern that algorithms may increasingly train on their own recycled patterns.
Merriam-Webster’s choice is seen by some linguists as both a critique of the current digital landscape and a record of evolving language.
The publisher suggested that growing awareness of “slop” indicates readers are becoming more discerning about what they consume online.
Observers say the word captures an era defined by automation, efficiency and an uneasy sense of emptiness.