An edgelord is someone, typically on the Internet, who tries to impress or shock by posting exaggerated opinions such as misanthropy, nihilism or extremist views or extremely cynical and pessimistic opinions.
According to the Merriam-Webster.com online dictionary, the first known usage of the word "edgelord" under this definition was in 2013. It was added to Webster's in September 2023. Webster gave the following example:
Edgelords were characterised by author and journalist Rachel Monroe in her account of criminal behavior, Savage Appetites:
It is frequently associated with the forum site 4chan. The renegade rhetoric of the edgelord is often intentionally used by the far right to troll leftist targets.
See also
Épater la bourgeoisie Schadenfreude Sealioning Shock jock Shock site
References