Mon Dec 01 23:40:00 UTC 2025: Oxford Dictionary Names “Rage Bait” Word of the Year, Highlighting Online Outrage Culture
London, UK – The Oxford Dictionary has declared “rage bait” as its Word of the Year for 2025, signaling the increasing prevalence and impact of content designed to provoke anger and boost online engagement. The term, which refers to deliberately inflammatory material intended to elicit outrage, has seen a threefold increase in usage this year.
The Oxford Dictionary noted that the rise of “rage bait” reflects a growing awareness of how social media algorithms and the addictive nature of outrage content draw users into polarizing debates. Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, said that “rage bait” and last year’s Word of the Year, “brain rot,” highlight a “powerful cycle where outrage sparks engagement, algorithms amplify it, and constant exposure leaves us mentally exhausted.”
Other dictionaries have also chosen internet-related terms as their Word of the Year. Collins Dictionary selected “vibe coding,” a software development technique using AI to translate natural language into code. The Cambridge Dictionary chose “parasocial,” describing the one-sided relationships people form with online personalities they don’t know.
While examples of rage bait can range from harmlessly bizarre food combinations to intentionally annoying behavior, the phenomenon has also infiltrated political discourse, where outrage is leveraged to elevate profiles and trigger reactions.
Grathwohl emphasized the broader implications of these trends, stating, “These words don’t just define trends; they reveal how digital platforms are reshaping are thinking and behavior.”
Oxford Dictionary also showcased its other shortlisted contenders, “aura farming” and “biohack,” in a series of parody videos on Instagram. “Aura farming,” described as cultivating an impressive persona, and “biohack,” the optimization of health through lifestyle alterations, were visually represented in humorous scenarios.
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