doomscroll: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, modern slang, digital culture.
Quick answer
What does “doomscroll” mean?
The act of compulsively scrolling through negative news and social media content.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of compulsively scrolling through negative news and social media content.
To engage in a continuous, addictive cycle of seeking out and absorbing distressing online information, often to the detriment of one's mood or mental well-being.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; usage is identical in both dialects.
Connotations
Universally negative, associated with anxiety, wasted time, and digital-age malaise.
Frequency
Equally frequent in digitally literate communities in both regions; slightly more common in US media, but well-established in UK.
Grammar
How to Use “doomscroll” in a Sentence
[Subject] doomscrolls[Subject] spent/was [duration] doomscrolling[Subject] couldn't stop doomscrollingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doomscroll” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- After the election results, she spent the whole bank holiday weekend doomscrolling.
- I told him to put his phone down and stop doomscrolling through the pandemic updates.
American English
- I doomscrolled for two hours after reading that climate report.
- He admitted to doomscrolling Twitter every morning before getting out of bed.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare; 'doomscrolling' as participle used adverbially) He sat there, doomscrolling silently.
American English
- (Extremely rare; 'doomscrolling' as participle used adverbially) She spent the evening doomscrolling aimlessly.
adjective
British English
- He was in a doomscrolling spiral after the football match was cancelled.
- The article warned of a doomscrolling generation.
American English
- She had a doomscrolling habit that affected her sleep.
- The app's design encourages doomscrolling behavior.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in discussions of workplace productivity and digital wellness.
Academic
Emerging in sociology, media studies, and psychology papers on digital behaviour.
Everyday
Common in conversations about mental health, news consumption, and screen time.
Technical
Used in tech journalism and UX design discussions about addictive app features.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doomscroll”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “doomscroll”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doomscroll”
- Using it as a noun for the content ('This feed is a doomscroll') instead of the activity.
- Confusing with 'doomsday scrolling'.
- Misspelling as 'doom scroll' (two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal, modern slang originating in digital culture, though it is increasingly used in journalistic and academic contexts.
Its primary use is as a verb. While the activity can be referred to as 'doomscrolling' (gerund/noun), using 'a doomscroll' as a countable noun is less standard.
It emerged in the late 2010s, with significant rise in usage during the 2020 global pandemic, reflecting increased anxiety and online news consumption.
Yes, concepts like 'hope-scrolling' or 'joy-scrolling' have been suggested, referring to curating one's feed to seek out uplifting or inspiring content intentionally.
The act of compulsively scrolling through negative news and social media content.
Doomscroll: in British English it is pronounced /ˈduːmskrəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈduːmskroʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fall down a doomscrolling rabbit hole”
- “Doomscroll into the wee hours”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DOOM + SCROLL: Imagine a medieval scroll predicting doom that you can't stop unrolling.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A SUBSTANCE / CONSUMPTION IS A JOURNEY (down a negative path).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'doomscroll'?