3 chapters across the catalog
Merriam-Webster Word of the Year and "Authentic"
Merriam-Webster names "authentic" as the word of the year for 2023, citing high search volume. The hosts express skepticism about the dictionary's data and suggest that "indict" would have been a more culturally relevant choice given the year's news events.
The hosts play a clip of actor Jake Gyllenhaal repeatedly using the word "amazing" during an interview. They mock the overuse of the word in Hollywood and debate whether "selfie" or "amazing" truly defines the current linguistic era.
Words of the Year and the Dracula Sneeze Hoax
"Google" and "Tweet" are named words of the year, but the hosts focus on the "Dracula Sneeze"—the act of sneezing into one's elbow. They suspect the term is a media hoax or a manufactured phrase, as they have never heard it used in common parlance. The segment mocks news anchors for reporting on the term without questioning its validity or origin.
