Black-quote

black-quote
noun/ˈblæk ˌkwoʊt/

1. The act of deliberately misrepresenting or distorting someone’s words to give them a negative, harmful, or misleading meaning contrary to the original intent.Example: “She used a black-quote to make my comment about teamwork sound like I was criticizing the group.”
2. A statement that has been intentionally twisted to portray the speaker in a negative light.Example: “His speech was full of black-quotes, painting the opponent as untrustworthy.”

verb (black-quotes, black-quoting, black-quoted)

1. To deliberately misinterpret or misrepresent someone’s words in a way that casts them negatively.Example: “Why do you always black-quote me during debates to make me look like the bad guy?”

Etymology: Coined in 2025, combining “black” (implying darkening or tainting) with “quote” (a cited statement), reflecting the act of corrupting the original meaning of words.

Related forms:

• black-quoting (n.): The practice of misrepresenting words negatively.
• black-quoted (adj.): Describing words or a statement that has been distorted. Example: “My black-quoted remark went viral for all the wrong reasons.”

Usage note: Often used in contexts of debates, social media, or interpersonal conflicts to highlight bad-faith reinterpretation of statements.
Example: “His speech was full of black-quotes, painting the opponent as untrustworthy.”

Example: “Why do you always black-quote me during debates to make me look like the bad guy?”
by Dexcess June 21, 2025
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