copium
noun
| KOH-pee-um
An Internet taunt for a delusional loser
What does copium mean?
Copium is a slang term for denial or rationalization in the face of defeat or failure. It is presented as a metaphorical drug people take when dealing with losing a game or otherwise being disappointed.
Examples of copium
Victors writing history is the biggest lie ever. Frequently the losers are the ones who feel the need to write the history because they are huffing extreme amounts of copium.
—@nrmaggs, X (formerly Twitter), 29 Sep. 2024
I feel like both sides are dealing with maximum copium. Sony fanboys wanting Xbox games and Xbox fanboys in denial about Microsoft wanting to one day go full third party and maximize profits.
—San Francisco 49ers fans are rationalizing the loss to the Ravens any way they possibly can, and are really mainlining the copium.
—
Where does copium come from?
Copium is a blend of the verb cope, as in dealing with adversity, and opium, the highly addictive narcotic drug. The implication of copium is that, rather than honestly accept defeat, someone deals (copes) with it by numbing their pain through denial or the like (as if taking opium).
Various people probably coined copium independently in the 2000s. In July 2019, the word specifically appeared in a meme posted on a 4chan forum featuring an image depicting the Internet character Pepe the Frog breathing with a mask and tube from a tank labeled 'copium,' as if inhaling oxygen or anesthesia. While early instances of copium memes were used in political contexts, the term spread online especially in gaming communities.
How is copium used?
Sometimes, copium is issued as a single-word response in chats or forums to tease or troll someone perceived to be making excuses for losing ('I can't believe we lost!' "Copium') Other times, the word is used in figures of speech that riff on the term as a fictional narcotic ('keep huffing copium' or 'you're taking a massive dose of copium'). As it became more widespread on social media and streaming platforms in the early 2020s, many people started using the word ironically to make fun of themselves. Increasingly, copium is being used more generally as a term for the state of denial or self-justification.
While copium still frequently occurs in gaming, it is also commonly found in discussions of sports and politics and in fandoms, such as for anime. A similar term is hopium, which refers to perceived states of false hope.
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