In a defining moment of the 2016 presidential election that has fractured friendships, even the dictionary appears to have given up hope of a happy outcome.
Merriam-Webster changed its Twitter header to the word "Götterdämmerung" on Monday. And in case you didn't know the definition, it means "a collapse (as of a society or regime) marked by catastrophic violence and disorder."
And, yes, they admitted, it was "in honor of the election."
Foes of both major party candidates, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, have predicted dire consequences if one or the other wins. Many are unhappy with both candidates, with their disapproval, untrustworthy and other not-so-positive numbers well above 50 percent each.
Still, the dictionary taking such a stance was a bit much even for one of its own Twitter followers. But Merriam-Webster explained its old header no longer seemed apropos:
There must have been a plethora of complaints, as the dictionary eventually gave in and tweeted "something positive."
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.