subtweet
noun
sub·tweet
ˈsəb-ˌtwēt 
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
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
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
Hannah Jane Parkinson
Examples of subtweet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
One particular line may or may not be a direct subtweet to Stanley Tucci.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2022
Compound words are on the rise in the book with deadname, pageview, fintech, allyship, babymoon and subtweet.
—Leanne Italie, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 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
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
Or maybe a subtweet or two?
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE.com, 21 May 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Kennedy Sessions, Chron, 27 Apr. 2023
One particular line may or may not be a direct subtweet to Stanley Tucci.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2022
Compound words are on the rise in the book with deadname, pageview, fintech, allyship, babymoon and subtweet.
—Leanne Italie, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 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
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
Or maybe a subtweet or two?
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE.com, 21 May 2021
Cite this Entry
“Subtweet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtweet. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subtweet
noun
sub·tweet
ˈsəb-ˌtwēt
: 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
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