London (AP): Asked to sum up 2022 in a word, the public has chosen a phrase.

Oxford Dictionaries said Monday that "goblin mode" has been selected by online vote as its word of the year.

It defines the term as "a type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations."

First seen on Twitter in 2009, "goblin mode" gained popularity in 2022 as people around the world emerged uncertainly from pandemic lockdowns.

"Given the year we've just experienced, goblin mode' resonates with all of us who are feeling a little overwhelmed at this point," said Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl.

The word of the year is intended to reflect "the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past twelve months." For the first time this year's winning phrase was chosen by public vote, from among three finalists selected by Oxford Languages lexicographers: goblin mode, metaverse and the hashtag IStandWith.

Despite being relatively unknown offline, goblin mode was the overwhelming favourite, winning 93% of the more than 340,000 votes cast.

The choice is more evidence of a world unsettled after years of pandemic turmoil, and by the huge changes in behaviour and politics brought by social media.

Last week Merriam-Webster announced that its word of the year is "gaslighting" psychological manipulation intended to make a person question the validity of their own thoughts.

In 2021 the Oxford word of the year was "vax" and Merriam-Webster's was "vaccine".

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Hazaribag (PTI): Four Maoists, including one carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Friday, police officials said.

The encounter took place in the Khapia forest area within the Keredari police station limits, following a tip-off.

"Four Maoists were killed in a gunfight with joint forces in 'Operation KotiNeer'. The Maoists killed have been identified as regional committee member Sahdeo Maho, carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh, Ranjit Ganjhu, Zonal committee member, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh," IG, CRPF, Saket Kumar Singh told mediapersons.

The remaining two are Area Commander Budhan Karmali, carrying a reward of Rs one lakh and sub-zonal committee member Natasha, a woman who hailed from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.

SDPO of Barkagaon, Pawan Kumar, said that no security personnel were injured in the operation.

The Maoists killed were wanted in about 80 cases.

With the encounter, only 57 Maoists are left in the state, the IG said.

A number of arms were also recovered during the operation including two AK 47 and one INSAS rifles.

The development comes close on the heels of a fierce exchange of fire between a Maoist squad headed by Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of Rs 1 crore, and police personnel on April 15 in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum. Four security personnel were injured in the encounter.

The Centre has already informed the state governments that there are no Naxal violence-affected districts in the country, more than five decades since Left Wing Extremism (LWE) originated in India.

The declaration followed a high-level security review held earlier this month by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the mandated 'National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left Wing Extremism' formulated in 2015.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament on March 30 that India was free from Maoists.