“Rage Bait” named Oxford’s Word of โthe Year 2025
OXFORD, UK – Lexicographers at the University of โOxford have selected “rage bait” as their word of the yearโ for 2025, reflectingโฃ aโ growing awareness of manipulative online tactics. The term,โข defined as deliberately provocative โposts on socialโข networks designed to increase reach by evoking negative โemotions, โขhas seen its usage โtriple in the past 12 months, according toโข Oxford University Press (OUP), publisherโข of โthe Oxford English Dictionary.
“The fact โthat the word ‘rage bait’ exists โand that we have seen such a dramatic increase โคin it means that we are increasingly aware of manipulative tactics in โthe online space,” said Casperโค grathwohl, president of OUP Oxford languages’ lexicography department.
Grathwohl distinguished “rage bait” fromโข “clickbait,” which relies on curiosity to generate clicks. He explained that this year’s selection specifically highlights efforts to provoke anger or indignation. “We are witnessing that the Internet increasingly controls and influences our emotions and our reactions,”โค he added.
The selection of “rage bait” follows last year’s word of the year, “brain rot,” which described concerns about the impact of excessive low-quality online content. Grathwohl noted a connection between โขthe two, stating they represent “a virtuous cycle โฃwhere outrage leads to greater reach of posts,โฃ amplified by algorithms. The constant exposure to this content then exhausts us.”
Other terms gaining traction on socialโฃ networksโค and appearing โon OUP’s shortlist included “aura farming,” describing the cultivation of โan attractive public image, and “biohack,” referring to attempts to improve physical and mental abilities through various means,โฃ including lifestyle โchanges and technologicalโข aids.
