Merriam-Webster adds ‘sheeple’ to Dictionary, takes shot at Apple in process

Typically, one imagines the kind of smart individuals that work at a dictionary publisher wouldn’t get involved in mobile flame wars, but then this is 2017, the year the world will probably end in a flurry of mushroom clouds.

Earlier today, Merriam-Webster tweeted the newest addition to the dictionary, “sheeple.” The word, an informal slight, is defined by the dictionary as a group of people “who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced.”

Wake up!

'Sheeple' is in the dictionary now. https://t.co/pbXVADEoBm

— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) April 27, 2017

To illustrate sheeple’s modern usage, Merriam-Webster called on a sentence written by CNN technology columnist Doug Criss. Dated to 2015, the sentence reads, “Apple’s debuted a battery case for the juice-sucking iPhone—an ungainly lumpy case the sheeple will happily shell out $99 for.”

For what it’s worth, sheeple isn’t too common in modern usage. Still, times are tough when tweed-wearing English professors have it out for you.

[source]Merriam-Webster[/source][via]MacRumors[/via]