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Purity Spiral

A social ratchet effect within a community. A process of moral outbidding, unchecked, which corrodes the group from within, rewarding those who put themselves at the extremes, and punishing nuance relentlessly.

Not to be confused with 'virtue signalling', 'woke culture', or 'online mobs'.

A purity spiral can contain all of these things, but it is defined by the fact that it takes place in a defined community or society, where being purer-than-thou is always being rewarded, and holding a divergent, 'less pure' opinion is normally punished, a dynamic which leads to an inevitable escalation as only the most extreme can 'win'.

Could be anything, from Mao's Red Guard, to Neo-Nazis, to The Crucible, to Instagram knitting.
After Louise denounced Nike as bourgeois, the village fell into a purity spiral where first Nikes, then all sneakers, then all shoes, and later, socks, were burnt on a pyre by the villagers.

Foot amputations followed in the Spring.
Purity Spiral by pizzleswizzle January 30, 2020
Related Words
Coined by RTGame. In reference to the Spire of Dublin.

An insulting term for a person who is a leech that drains all your money/energy.
Jessica is really getting on my nerves. She's such a spire.
Spire by mercurytheperson January 22, 2023

myspace spiral

A situation in which one
intends on viewing a single profile
on myspace but views that individuals
intriguing friends,
which forces one to investigate said profiles
until one forgets where they
started in the first place.
~O-O~
Damn that myspace spiral kicked my ass for hours~
myspace spiral by the marquis February 4, 2007

swing on the spiral 

Phrase used in the Tool song Lateralus.

Contrary to the common interpretation that it is meant in the general context for people to "keep going" in and through their life, it is really meant to mean seeking and experiencing the infinite depths of divinity within our own mind and consciousness without the fear of losing ones humanity. Spiral out and experience divinity while we are still human and alive.
"swing on the spiral of our divinity and still be a human... spiral out. Keep going." Tool
swing on the spiral by jay227 February 22, 2012
A simplified way to describe a fast-declining mental/emotional state, often leading to short-term bouts of depression or anxiety.
"Hey, how's your day going?"
"Terrible. I've got three exams, two papers, and I can't find my keys. I'm spiraling, man."

"Hey, are you coming to the meeting tonight?"
"Spiraling."
"Oh, ok, feel better."
Spiraling by EmbryH October 19, 2012

internet spiral 

Getting caught up in a seemingly endless loop of internet content, typically started by a youtube video or wikipedia entry. The user continues to look up even slightly related content, spiraling from related topic to related topic, typically losing hours out of the day.

Can also be used as a verb "to internet spiral."
Justine ended up in a deep internet spiral after Jess sent her a link to an old Bruce Springsteen video on youtube.

Jess internet spiraled her entire Sunday away looking at pictures of lolcats and other hilarious content.
internet spiral by justine-n-jess November 6, 2012
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korean word for madam, older woman
Ajumma wait a moment
Ajumma by aintnotinbutnice July 5, 2009
Word of the Day on September 30, 2026

Slop Grenade

When someone uses AI to generate a large document, slide deck, or piece of code/software and tosses it over the fence for you to deal with.
Chad: Hey Brent I sent you the new backend API change to review, it’s only 100 files changed.

Brent: he just tossed me a slop grenade
Slop Grenade by Joe Squid September 28, 2026
Word of the Day on September 29, 2026
Short-hand for the word floccinaucinihilipilification, meaning the estimation of something as valueless (encountered mainly as an example of one of the longest words in the English language).
After we broke up, he was floxi to me.
floxi by Dr. Geek May 13, 2009
Word of the Day on September 28, 2026
NYC people who migrate north to Quahog, RI to see the leaves in the fall.
New York and everyone from there can fornicate themselves with an iron stick.
leafers by ss++ February 8, 2005
Word of the Day on September 27, 2026

Respectfully 

Precedes or follows either a gratuitously disrespectful or honest remark, originated in New York City. Used in similar fashion to "no offense" or "to be honest," interchangeably.
Ya mans is wild buns, respectfully. Respectfully he's washed.

After school, The Modells on Jamaica Ave was active. Respectfully.
Respectfully by john quan the first December 20, 2020
Word of the Day on September 26, 2026

You met me at a very Chinese time in my life

A moment in time where you feel distinctly Chinese over all other things.
Dante: "I wish I could be Nigerian, but I can't because I'm Chinese. You met me at a very Chinese time in my life."
Word of the Day on September 25, 2026
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