Merriam-Webster Dictionary Adds ‘Janky,’ ‘Sus’ & A Whole Host Of Internet Slang

Internet slang has found its way into everyday conversations and has even permeated working environments. However, not everyone may be well-versed in the lingo. In steps Merriam-Webster to save the day and educate boomers worldwide.

The dictionary is taking over Urban Dictionary’s job by formally adding words such as “sus”—popularized by internet game sensation Among Us—and “pumpkin spice,” a self-explanatory phrase that, to be fair, has taken a new context on the internet. “Shrinkflation” which has been taken to represent economic anxiety also makes an appearance. 

Here are some pretty wild inclusions to the lexicon as of September 2022:

janky: of very poor quality 

sus: suspect, suspicious

pumpkin spice: a mixture of usually cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and often allspice that is commonly used in pumpkin pie.

sponcon: content posted usually by an influencer on social media that looks like a typical post but for which the poster has been paid to advertise a product or service

pwn: to dominate and defeat (someone or something) 

omakase: (adverb/ adjective) according to the chef’s choice 

shrinkflation: the practice of reducing a product’s amount or volume per unit while continuing to offer it at the same price 

cringe: something extremely embarrassing

These aren’t the only new additions; in fact, there are 370 new words and phrases that the dictionary has included.

According to NPR, Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster, said that the terms may not seem like proper additions to everyone, and some may not agree with slang being recognized as real words.

However, the team is aiming to capture the landscape of our language as it is right now, and if words such as “sus” and “cringe” have become colloquialisms in our everyday usage, then the dictionary finds it is its duty to record this new phenomenon of internet slang.

[via NPR and NERDBOT, Photo 166624788 © Oleg Blokhin | Dreamstime.com]