What Merriam-Webster's terms say
Merriam-Webster's terms of service and privacy policy have 68 rated points: 1 serious, 23 bad, 32 worth knowing and 12 good. 52 apply whenever you use the site, signed in or not; 16 only once you have an account.
Whenever you use Merriam-Webster
Bad 20
Information is gathered about you through third parties
This service gathers information about you through third parties
Where it says this ↗Instead of asking directly, this Service will assume your consent to changes of terms merely from your usage
Instead of asking directly, this Service will assume your consent merely from your usage.
Where it says this ↗Any liability on behalf of the service is only limited to the fees you paid as a user
Any liability on behalf of the service is only limited to $ 1,000
Where it says this ↗You have a reduced time period to take legal action against the service
Users have a reduced time period to take legal action against the service
Where it says this ↗Location data may be collected, used and/or shared
This service may collect, use, and share location data
Where it says this ↗You are forced into binding arbitration in case of disputes
This service forces users into binding arbitration in the case of disputes
Where it says this ↗Your personal data may be used for marketing purposes
This service may use your personal information for marketing purposes
Where it says this ↗Extra data may be collected about you through promotions
The service may collect extra data about you through promotions
Where it says this ↗Some personal data may be kept for business interests or legal obligations
This service may keep personal data after a request for erasure for business interests or legal obligations
Where it says this ↗You are being tracked via social media cookies/pixels
The service uses social media cookies/pixels
Where it says this ↗Third-party cookies are used for statistics
This service uses third-party cookies for statistics
Where it says this ↗Your personal data is used to employ targeted third-party advertising
The service uses your personal data to employ targeted third-party advertising
Where it says this ↗Many different types of personal data are collected
The service collects many different types of personal data
Where it says this ↗Your personal data may be sold or otherwise transferred as part of a bankruptcy proceeding or other type of financial transaction
The service can sell or otherwise transfer your personal data as part of a bankruptcy proceeding or other type of financial transaction.
Where it says this ↗You are tracked via web beacons, tracking pixels, browser fingerprinting, and/or device fingerprinting
The service may use tracking pixels, web beacons, browser fingerprinting, and/or device fingerprinting on users.
Where it says this ↗Your data may be processed and stored anywhere in the world
Where it says this ↗Your personal data may be disclosed to comply with government requests without notice to you
This service reserves the right to disclose your personal information without notifying you
Where it says this ↗Terms may be changed any time at their discretion, without notice to you
Terms may be changed any time at their discretion, without notice to the user
Where it says this ↗
Worth knowing 24
You agree not to use the service for illegal purposes
Users agree not to use the service for illegal purposes
Where it says this ↗Instructions are provided on how to submit a copyright claim
Provides instructions on how to submit a copyright claim
Where it says this ↗The terms may be changed at any time, but you will receive notification of the changes
The service may change its terms at any time, but the user will receive notification of the changes.
Where it says this ↗This service assumes no responsibility and liability for the contents of links to other websites
Where it says this ↗This service is only available for use individually and non-commercially
This service is only available for use individually and non-commercially.
Where it says this ↗Spidering, crawling, or accessing the site through any automated means is not allowed
Where it says this ↗The court of law governing the terms is in location X
The court of law governing the terms is in location Delaware, USA
Where it says this ↗The service assumes no liability for any damages the user incurs
This service assumes no liability for any losses or damages resulting from any matter relating to the service
Where it says this ↗This service does not guarantee that it or the products obtained through it meet your expectations or requirements
This service does not guarantee that it or the products obtained through it meet the users' expectations or requirements
Where it says this ↗Failure to enforce any provision of the Terms of Service does not constitute a waiver of such provision
Where it says this ↗Invalidity of any portion of the Terms of Service does not entail invalidity of its remainder
Where it says this ↗Defend, indemnify, hold harmless; survives termination
Indemnify, hold harmless; survives termination
Where it says this ↗The service is provided 'as is' and to be used at your sole risk
The service is provided 'as is' and to be used at the users' sole risk
Where it says this ↗Your IP address is collected, which can be used to view your approximate location
This service collects your IP address, which can be used to view your approximate location
Where it says this ↗Third parties are involved in operating the service
Where it says this ↗This service informs you that its Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party services
The service informs users that its privacy policy does not apply to third party websites
Where it says this ↗Your personal data may be aggregated into statistics
Your personal data is aggregated into statistics
Where it says this ↗This service gives your personal data to third parties involved in its operation
Where it says this ↗Blocking first-party cookies may limit your ability to use the service
Blocking first party cookies may limit your ability to use the service
Where it says this ↗Do Not Track (DNT) headers are ignored and you are tracked anyway even if you set this header
This service ignores the Do Not Track (DNT) header and tracks users anyway even if they set this header.
Where it says this ↗There is a date of the last update of the agreements
Where it says this ↗This service does not condone any ideas contained in its user-generated contents
Where it says this ↗You agree to indemnify and hold the service harmless in case of a claim related to your use of the service
You are solely responsible for claims made against the service and agree to indemnify and hold harmless the service.
Where it says this ↗
Good 8
You can request access, correction and/or deletion of your data
You can request access and deletion of personal data
Where it says this ↗You can opt out of targeted advertising
Where it says this ↗The service reviews its Privacy Policy on a regular basis
The service reviews its privacy policy on a regular basis
Where it says this ↗This service claims that your personal data is not being sold
This service does not sell your personal data
Where it says this ↗Promises will be kept after a merger or acquisition
"In such transactions, customer information generally is one of the transferred business assets but remains subject to the promises made in any pre-existing Privacy Policy"
Where it says this ↗Information is provided about how your personal data is used
The service provides information about how they intend to use your personal data
Where it says this ↗Information is provided about security practices
The user is informed about security practices
Where it says this ↗A complaint mechanism is provided for the handling of personal data
The service provides a complaint mechanism for the handling of personal data
Where it says this ↗
If you have a Merriam-Webster account
Serious 1
Specific content can be deleted without reason and may be removed without prior notice
The service can delete specific content without reason and may do it without prior notice
"Merriam-Webster does not have any obligation to monitor, edit or delete UGC, but may do so in its sole discretion. UGC including, but not limited to, the following may be deleted or edited by Merriam-Webster:"
Where it says this ↗
Bad 3
Your content can be licensed to third parties
This service can license user content to third parties
"By sending UGC, you automatically grant to Merriam-Webster a [...] license to [...] and to sublicense such rights through multiple tiers of sublicensees."
Where it says this ↗A license is kept on user-generated content even after you close your account
This service keeps a license on user-generated content even after users close their accounts.
Where it says this ↗Tracking pixels are used in service-to-user communication
Where it says this ↗
Worth knowing 8
The posting of pornographic content is prohibited
Prohibits the posting of pornographic content
"You must not do the following things: [...] send or post a sexually-explicit image."
Where it says this ↗Your content can be distributed through any media known now or in the future
The service can distribute your content through any media known now or in the future
"By sending UGC, you automatically grant to Merriam-Webster a [...] license to use [...] and display it alone or as part of other works in any form, media, or technology, whether now known or hereafter developed"
Where it says this ↗Your account can be suspended for several reasons
The service can suspend your account for several reasons
Where it says this ↗This service is only available to users over a certain age
This service is only available to users over 16 years of age
Where it says this ↗You agree not to submit libelous, harassing or threatening content
Users agree not to submit libelous, harassing or threatening content
"You must not do the following things: [...] send or post UGC that is obscene, defamatory, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful or embarrassing to any other person or entity."
Where it says this ↗You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account and for the activities on your account
Where it says this ↗If you are the target of a copyright claim, your content and/or your account may be removed
If you are the target of a copyright claim, your content may be removed
Where it says this ↗
Good 4
You can opt out of receiving promotional communications
You can opt out of promotional communications
Where it says this ↗The service has non-exclusive use of your content
Where it says this ↗You are informed about the risk of publishing personal info online
The service informs users about the risk of publishing personal info online
Where it says this ↗You aren’t allowed to publicly post private messages
Prohibits public posting of private messages
Where it says this ↗
The documents
Ratings by ToS;DR volunteers; they can lag behind the current terms. Not legal advice.