subtweet

A subtweet is a social media post about a specific person that doesn’t name or tag them. It’s a way of talking about someone publicly while keeping plausible deniability.

What does subtweet mean?

A subtweet hints at its target without saying who it is. “Some people really can’t handle being wrong” could be a general observation, or a pointed message to one person who will know exactly who it’s about. The word works as a noun (“was that a subtweet?”) and a verb (“she’s subtweeting her ex again”).

The name comes from Twitter, but people now use it for any vague, indirect post on any platform.

How to use subtweet

• “That ‘fake friends’ post is definitely a subtweet about me.”
• “Stop subtweeting and just text him.”
• “I wasn’t subtweeting you, I promise, it was about my landlord.”
• “The whole group chat is analysing her subtweet.”

Is subtweeting passive-aggressive?

Often, yes. Because it avoids direct confrontation, subtweeting is commonly seen as passive-aggressive or cowardly. Not every subtweet is negative, though; some are vague compliments or inside jokes, a bit like posting about an oomf.

Where subtweet comes from

Subtweet is short for “subliminal tweet,” according to Dictionary.com. Both Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster date it to 2009, and Oxford Dictionaries added it in August 2014.

Related terms

• Oomf: one of my followers.
• Ratio: when replies outnumber likes.
• Finsta: a secret second Instagram account.
• Main character: the person everyone online is talking about.

See more terms like this in our internet slang dictionary.