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Merriam-Webster recently announced that it has added "sheeple" to its dictionary, an informal word that it defines as "people who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced" and thereby "likened to sheep."
The first example of the word in a sentence is pretty unremarkable…
James Nichols, who ran the family farm here, stamped dollar bills with red ink in protest against currency and told his neighbors that they were “sheeple” for obeying authority like livestock. — Sara Rimer and James Bennet
…but then there's this:
Apple's debuted a battery case for the juice-sucking iPhone—an ungainly lumpy case the sheeple will happily shell out $99 for. — Doug Criss
Merriam-Webster, which dates back to 1843, says the first usage of the word "sheeple" was in 1945, long before the advent of the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple as a company altogether. For what it's worth, the word's popularity apparently falls within the bottom 10 percent of its dictionary.
Wake up! 'Sheeple' is in the dictionary now. https://t.co/pbXVADEoBm — Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) April 27, 2017
Sadly, this is not the Onion.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)What's the word to describe the folks that use this word? Because none of these folks I've observed saying it seem very nice or objective.
For me it's right up there with "snowflake" - as soon as I hear that, any credibility they had goes straight out the window.Anyone who gets offended by this needs to lighten up big time.
Hit the nail on the head.
This is probably one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen. Who the hell do they think they are?
I don't like or agree with the term, but 'one of the most disgusting things you have ever seen' though? Really? They are using an example of how the term is used. It's a dictionary, not an opinion piece!Personally I struggle to think of an example other than Apple users to which the term has been used as much in recent memory. That doesn't mean I like or agree with the term being used, but it's a reasonable example to use, I think.
Every company has sheep. Every artist has sheep. Apple's haters are just the most vocal ;)
Sorry to ram home the point, but are ewe saying it's a baAaAad example? ;)They could've used a better example tho.