subtweet

noun

sub·​tweet ˈsəb-ˌtwēt How to pronounce subtweet (audio)
plural subtweets
: a usually mocking or critical tweet that alludes to another user of the X (formerly Twitter) online message service without including a link to the user's account and often without directly mentioning the user's name
As with any good subtweet, Moore refuses to refer to Gibson by name—but it's easy enough to guess what he's talking about …Laura Bradley
subtweet verb, transitive + intransitive
subtweeted; subtweeting
Now, Perry is going through the classic stages of the breakup. She's spending more time with her dog. And she's now subtweeted her ex. No wonder people find her so relatable. Michael Hafford
subtweeting noun
Subtweeting: it's the internet equivalent of talking about someone behind their back—or at least that's how people usually explain it. Hannah Jane Parkinson

Examples of subtweet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite the pressure from Patrick, Phelan defended his property tax proposal and issued a slight subtweet towards Patrick on Twitter, joking about his excitement for vacation when both chambers are set to finish. Kennedy Sessions, Chron, 27 Apr. 2023 Or maybe a subtweet or two? Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE.com, 21 May 2021 Compound words are on the rise in the book with deadname, pageview, fintech, allyship, babymoon and subtweet. Leanne Italie, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2022 But that subtweet, which usually doesn’t directly involve the target of the Discourse, and which may even be supportive of the target, only allows the harassment to continue and grow. Lisa Bubert, Longreads, 9 Mar. 2022 Agrawal obliquely alluded to these tensions in a statement Sunday night, which some tech pundits interpreted as a not-so-subtle subtweet directed at Musk’s disregard for Twitter’s greater good. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2022 One particular line may or may not be a direct subtweet to Stanley Tucci. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subtweet was in 2009

Dictionary Entries Near subtweet

Cite this Entry

“Subtweet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtweet. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

subtweet

noun
sub·​tweet ˈsəb-ˌtwēt How to pronounce subtweet (audio)
: a usually mocking or critical tweet that alludes to another Twitter user without including the link to the user's account and often without directly mentioning the user's name
subtweet verb
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!