Oxford Dictionaries Names “Anger Bait” Word of the Year for 2025
This week, online terminology gained recognition when Oxford Dictionaries chose “anger bait” as its word of the year for 2025. The term, which stems from “clickbait,” refers to content intentionally crafted to provoke anger and, in turn, enhance engagement and potential profits for its creators.
According to the University of Oxford, “anger bait” encompasses online material specifically designed to elicit feelings of irritation or provocation. Its purpose is usually to drive traffic or engagement to specific webpages or social media platforms.
The decision to select “anger bait” followed a three-day voting period involving over 30,000 participants.
In light of a 2025 news landscape marked by social unrest and ongoing discussions regarding the regulation of online content, Oxford’s experts noted, “This year signifies a deeper shift in how we converse about attention, engagement, and ethics in the digital realm.”
Casper Grasswohl, president of Oxford Languages, pointed out that the rise of “anger bait” indicates a growing public awareness of online manipulation techniques. “Whereas the internet once focused on capturing our interest through curiosity, it has since evolved to influence our emotions, significantly altering our reactions,” he commented. “This feels like a natural evolution of our discussions about humanity in a tech-driven environment.”
Grasswohl also suggested that “anger bait” complements last year’s word of the year, “brain rot,” emphasizing that while “brain rot” illustrated the mental fatigue from endless scrolling, “anger bait” highlights content deliberately engineered to incite anger and generate clicks. Together, these terms encapsulate a troubling cycle where anger fuels engagement, algorithms amplify it, and the constant exposure leaves us feeling drained. He noted that these words reflect current trends and demonstrate how digital platforms are reshaping our mindset and behaviors.
As a side note, there’s buzz surrounding Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan’s interpretation of The Odyssey, sparking a flurry of online reactions. Curious about how it might look? Check out a hilarious trailer.
