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The slang term “edgelord” may be slightly difficult to understand at first until you see it used in context. It is one of the newest slang terms being used today. If you have encountered this term and were wondering its meaning, then you have come to the right place. Here you will find the meaning of this term, a bit of information about its origin, and some other meanings if there are any.
You will also find some conversation examples below so you can see how the phrase is used properly in context and to help you gain a deeper understanding of its meaning. Finally, you will discover some other words or phrases that you can use in place of this term that mean same thing.
Edgelord Meaning, Origin and Usage
Key Takeaways
- This slang term is used most frequently on the internet and in text messages to describe someone who uses hate speech and displays other forms of offensive behavior in order to shock people and get attention. They are typically everyday people offline who have mundane jobs and lives. It is someone who tries to seem edgy, but in reality are not.
What Does Edgelord Mean?
“Edgelord” is a slang term for someone who deliberately pushes controversial, provocative, or dark topics to appear edgy or shocking, often to attract attention or seem rebellious. The term combines “edge,” referring to a desire to be seen as on the fringe or unconventional, and “lord,” indicating someone who frequently displays this behavior.
Edgelords are usually seen in online spaces like social media, forums, and gaming communities, where their attempts to push boundaries and stand out as “edgy” are more visible. However, the term is typically used dismissively, implying that the person’s efforts to seem rebellious or unique are overly dramatic or attention-seeking.
Origin of Edgelord
The origin of this slang term is unknown concerning when and where it was first used. However, it can be said that it is a relatively new term that was not defined until 2018. What is known is that it is made up of a portmanteau of the words “edge” meaning someone who has an intense or sharp quality about them and “lord” meaning to have rule over something or someone.
Usage of Edgelord
Social Media Commentary:
- Used in social media to describe someone’s overly dark or dramatic posts.
- “Scrolling through my feed, and there’s this one edgelord who only posts ‘deep’ quotes about life being pointless. We get it, dude.”
Online Gaming Communities:
- Common in gaming spaces where players exaggerate their edginess to provoke reactions.
- “Every match has that one edgelord who tries to shock everyone with their ‘dark’ username and trash talk. Just play the game!”
Art and Music Scene:
- Refers to artists or musicians whose style or lyrics try hard to be edgy, often veering into cliché.
- “The new album is like an edgelord’s dream—all dark lyrics and trying-too-hard to be intense. Not my vibe.”
Film and TV Criticism:
- Used to critique characters or themes in movies or shows that feel excessively dark for shock value.
- “The main character was written like a total edgelord—constantly brooding and acting like the world’s against him. It got old fast.”
Philosophical or Academic Debates:
- Can be used in debates when someone consistently brings up extreme or nihilistic viewpoints.
- “We were discussing ethics, and one guy went full edgelord, saying morality doesn’t exist and nothing matters. It’s like he’s trying to be edgy in a philosophy class.”
Workplace or Professional Settings (jokingly among colleagues):
- Used to describe someone who makes overly dramatic statements or ideas in meetings or projects.
- “So Mark’s pitch was super dark—he went full edgelord, suggesting we focus the campaign on ‘the bleakness of modern life’ for a coffee ad.”
Literature and Writing Communities:
- Used to describe a writer’s attempt to make a character or story dark and edgy to an extreme degree.
- “The novel tries way too hard to be gritty and ends up just feeling like the author’s an edgelord. Not every story needs to be that dark.”
Casual Conversation:
- Used in informal chat to humorously call out someone’s attempt at being provocative or dark.
- “Mike’s wearing all black and talking about ‘the emptiness of existence’ at brunch—total edgelord vibes today!”
Related Terms to “Edgelord”
- Tryhard: Refers to someone who makes excessive effort to appear a certain way, often used in gaming but also applied to those trying too hard to seem edgy or impressive.
- Contrarian: A person who consistently takes opposing views, often just to be different or to provoke others, similar to how an edgelord may go against mainstream ideas for attention.
- Nihilist: A term used for someone who rejects or questions the value of life and morals, often leaning toward dark themes. While not always performative, nihilism can intersect with edgelord behavior.
- Shock Jock: Originally from radio, this term describes someone who deliberately says provocative or offensive things to shock their audience.
- Rebel Without a Cause: A classic phrase for someone who acts rebellious without a real reason, often to seem edgy or different.
- Brooder: Refers to someone who constantly dwells on dark, intense, or moody themes. Brooding characters or individuals can often seem like edgelords, especially if it feels performative.
- Edgy: A term used to describe people, styles, or comments that push boundaries, often focusing on dark or controversial themes.
- Dark Academia: A modern aesthetic and subculture focusing on dark, intellectual themes related to academia, literature, and arts. Some people within the subculture lean toward edgelord-like behavior, emphasizing gloominess and mystery.
- Anti-Hero: A character trope in literature or media, often embodying morally ambiguous or dark traits. While not always an edgelord, anti-heroes sometimes play up edgy characteristics.
- Drama Queen/King: A person who exaggerates situations or emotions for attention. While not strictly about dark themes, their behavior can overlap with edgelord traits.
- Doomer: Refers to someone who has a very pessimistic or cynical view of the world, often sharing dark thoughts about the future or humanity. This overlaps with edgelord behavior, particularly in online spaces.
- Attention Seeker: Someone who engages in behaviors specifically to attract attention. This can describe the core motivation behind an edgelord’s dramatic or edgy expressions.
- Internet Troll: While distinct, trolls share the edgelord’s tendency to provoke, often by posting inflammatory or offensive content to elicit strong reactions from others.
- Cynic: A person with a generally negative view of life and human motives. Cynics may come across as edgelords if they often express dark or bleak opinions.
- Edgecore: A style that embraces dark, moody, and rebellious themes in fashion and self-expression, often leaning into edgy and sometimes edgelord-like aesthetics.
Examples of “Edgelord”
A discussion between two friends via text message.
- Friend 1: My uncle told me he is the original edgelord.
- Friend 2: Why did he say that?
- Friend 1: He says he is because he watches It’s A Wonderful Life every Christmas and waits for the dude to jump off the bridge, and he never does.
- Friend 2: OMG! That’s so messed up!
An online conversation between two Twitter users.
- User 1: The Nazis and Hitler had it right. Only white people deserve to live on this planet.
- User 2: OMG! Why would you say such a thing? Quit trying to be such an edgelord.
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