The Merriam-Webster word of the year for 2023 is “authentic,” in an era of deepfakes, post-truth, and the rise of artificial intelligence. According to Peter Sokolowski, editor at large, the great interest in the word was due to a crisis of authenticity, as consumers question authentic portrayals of art, cuisine, and self. This trend was seen throughout the year with constant high searches for the term. Elon Musk’s endorsement of authentic social media communications also contributed to the theme of 2023. The term follows 2022’s “gaslighting” and marks the 20th annual Merriam-Webster word of the year.
Merriam-Webster’s top words of 2023 include “rizz”, slang for “romantic appeal or charm,” “kibbutz”, used in a spike of search interest after Hamas attacked them, and “implode” after a submersible exploded during a Titanic exploration. Furthermore, “deadname” saw a surge in interest as legislators attempted to limit LGBTQ+ rights. “Doppelganger” is defined as a “double” with interest surrounding Naomi Klein’s book. Finally, “coronation” spiked after King Charles III’s coronation, and “deepfake” interest spiked after revelations of its impact and use in legal proceedings.
