'Maxxing' named Dictionary.com's word of the year
Dictionary.com has named 'maxxing', a suffix meaning doing something to the fullest or optimising it, as its 2026 word of the year. Its lexicographers say it reflects a culture preoccupied with getting the most out of everything.
Left 0 · Centre-left 3 · Centre 1 · Centre-right 2 · Right 0
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How each side framed it
Left-leaning outlets
Left-rated outlets headline it: “‘Maxxing’ is Dictionary.com’s word of the year: ‘It’s cooler than saying you’re doing more’” (The Guardian); “Dictionary.com's Word of the Year is doing the absolute most” (Axios).
Centre outlets
Centre-rated outlets headline it: “'Maxxing' selected as Dictionary.com word of the year” (BBC News).
Right-leaning outlets
Right-rated outlets headline it: “"Maxxing" is Dictionary.com's 2026 Word of the Year” (CBS News); “Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year is one of the most viral — and controversial — terms to date” (New York Post).
Context
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Sources by lean
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Follow the money
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Who owns or funds the outlets covering this story (6 outlets)
| Outlet | Lean | Ownership & funding (MBFC) |
|---|---|---|
| Axios | Centre-left | Cox Enterprises, a significant media conglomerate in the U.S, primarily own Axios. The outlet generates revenue primarily through advertising, native content, and sponsored newsletters. Unlike some outlets, Axios does not rely on subscription fees, allowing its content to remain widely accessible. source |
| The Guardian | Centre-left | The Guardian and its companion publication, the Sunday newspaper The Observer, are owned by Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). Scott Trust Limited was created in 1936 to ensure the editorial independence of the publications and owns Guardian Media Group plc (GMG). source |
| USA Today | Centre-left | USA Today is owned by the Gannett Company, headquartered in McLean, Virginia. It is one of the largest newspaper publishers in the United States, with interests in newspapers, digital marketing services companies, and television broadcasting. Subscriptions and advertising generate revenue. source |
| BBC News | Centre | The BBC operates under a Royal Charter. Oversight is managed by the BBC Board, and regulatory authority rests with Ofcom. source |
| CBS News | Centre-right | CBS News is owned by Paramount Global, which was formerly controlled by National Amusements, Inc., the holding company of the Redstone family. In 2025, Paramount entered into a merger agreement with Skydance Media, effectively ending the Redstones’ majority control. CBS News generates revenue primarily through advertising and affiliate broadcasting fees..push({}); source |
| New York Post | Centre-right | The New York Post is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, which owns many conservative/sensational media outlets worldwide. The paper is funded through advertising, subscriptions, and newsstand sales. source |