subtweet

American  

[suhb-tweet] / ˈsʌbˌtwit /

noun

1. (on the Twitter website) a hostile or otherwise negative post that is addressed to or about a particular person but does not mention the person’s username or does not name the person at all.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to post such a message or tweet about (someone) on Twitter.

   I wish she’d stop subtweeting and talk to me in person.

Usage

What does subtweet mean? A subtweet is a negative post on the social media site Twitter, targeting a certain person without directly mentioning them or their username.

Other Word Forms

• subtweeter noun

Etymology

Origin of subtweet

2009; sub(liminal) + tweet (in the sense “a message posted on Twitter”)

Example Sentences

Compound words are on the rise in the book with deadname, pageview, fintech, allyship, babymoon and subtweet.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2022

Still, the Lend feature does seem similar to an interest-bearing bond, which would typically be regulated as securities as an apparent subtweet from the SEC pointed out.

From The Verge • Sep. 20, 2021

But there’s also another, more encouraging way to interpret Barr’s comments: Maybe it was all just one giant, coded subtweet of the boss.

From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2019

That may be the best subtweet of the week.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2019

When Ariana Grande went on a subtweet bender last week, fans instantly responded to one particular phrase: “thank u, next.”

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2018