whatever

“Whatever” on its own is a dismissive shrug in word form: I don’t care, I’m not arguing, think what you like. It was one of the defining words of 1990s attitude.

What whatever means

As a one-word reply, it shuts a conversation down. “You were supposed to call.” “Whatever.” It can mean indifference, annoyance, or “I disagree, but I’m done talking.” Tone carries most of the meaning, and a long, drawn-out “whatevvver” is a full eye roll.

In the 90s it often came with a hand sign: both hands up, thumbs touching, fingers raised to make a W. Shorter modern versions include “whatevs” and “whatev.”

Examples

• “You’re wrong about that movie.” “Whatever.”
• “Fine, whatever, we’ll do it your way.”
• “He says he’s busy. Whatever. I’ll go by myself.”

Where it came from

“Whatever” has been ordinary English for centuries, and Merriam-Webster notes its use to suggest that an issue doesn’t matter (“go see a movie, watch TV, whatever”). Wiktionary records the dismissive one-word reply in a 1983 episode of the sitcom Newhart. By the 1990s it was a teen catchphrase, and films like Clueless made the sulky delivery iconic.

Related terms

• As if: “no way,” with an eye roll.
• Talk to the hand: “I’m not listening.”
• IDC: I don’t care, in text form.
• Unbothered: calm and unaffected.

More throwback words are in our 90s slang guide.