The Wrap

Merriam-Webster Dictionary Denies It’s Trolling Trump on Purpose (Exclusive)

How do you define “really, but not really?”

Itay Hod

March 7, 2017

Donald Trump Merriam Webster Troll
Graphic: Eric Hernandez

The team at Merriam-Webster is denying intentional trolling (verb, antagonize others online) of President Donald Trump, despite weeks of hilarious content and social media speculation to the contrary.

Subtle reminders about the meaning of fascism or other chaotic states of government, shading Kellyanne Conway over “alternative facts” and more have been coming from the dictionary’s official Twitter account.
Merriam-Webster chief digital officer and publisher, Lisa Schneider, chalks this up to a coincidence (noun, events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection), but also says that M-W social content often comes as a reflection of what users are searching. In other words, blame the algorithm (noun, a step-by-step procedure for solving a…