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‘Rage Bait’ Named Oxford’s Word of the Year 2025

12/3/2025

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Summary

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The Oxford Dictionary named "rage bait" as its Word of the Year for 2025, reflecting content designed to provoke anger and boost online engagement.
The term's usage tripled this year, signaling rising awareness of how social media algorithms fuel polarizing debates.
Other dictionaries highlighted internet terms such as "vibe coding" and "parasocial."
Oxford's President noted these words show how digital platforms shape thinking and behavior, echoing last year's "brain rot".

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Story summary

The Oxford Dictionary named "rage bait" as its Word of the Year for 2025, reflecting content designed to provoke anger and boost online engagement.
The term's usage tripled this year, signaling rising awareness of how social media algorithms fuel polarizing debates.
Other dictionaries highlighted internet terms such as "vibe coding" and "parasocial."
Oxford's President noted these words show how digital platforms shape thinking and behavior, echoing last year's "brain rot".