butthurt
/BUT-hurt/adjective · noun
Meaning
Informal, mildly vulgar slang describing someone who is excessively upset, offended, or resentful about a perceived insult, criticism, loss, or unfair outcome. As a noun, it refers to that attitude or emotional reaction.[1]
- 1. Overly offended or angry about something that may seem minor to others.
- 2. Showing hurt feelings or resentment after losing, being criticized, rejected, or denied something.
- 3. As a noun, an exaggerated display of offense, irritation, or wounded pride.
Examples
“Don't get butthurt; it was just a joke.”
“He's still butthurt about losing the match.”
“The comments are full of butthurt after the update.”
“She got butthurt when nobody liked her idea.”
“Imagine being this butthurt over a parking spot.”
Origin and spread
Butthurt is a compound of butt and hurt, using the body-part word figuratively to suggest wounded feelings or a sore reaction. The modern slang sense is documented in online communication by November 12, 1996, including a Usenet post in alt.graffiti that said, “dont get so butthurt.” The available record supports circulation in 1996 rather than identifying a single confirmed inventor. The term later spread through internet forums, gaming communities, and general online commentary; its broader visibility was reflected when Oxford Dictionaries added it to its modern-language dictionary content in August 2015.[1]
How to use it
Butthurt is casual, mocking, and sometimes dismissive. It is commonly aimed at someone whose reaction is seen as disproportionate, so using it toward a genuinely distressed person can sound hostile or belittling. The spelling butthurt is common, while butt-hurt and butt hurt also occur. It is best avoided in formal or professional writing.
Sources
- 1. Wayword Radio — butthurtSupports: meaning, earliest documented use, origin.
- 2. TIME — Oxford Dictionaries Adds 'Fat-Shame,' 'Butthurt' and 'Redditor'
