sadfishing

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noun

The practice of writing about one’s unhappiness or emotional problems on social media, especially in a vague way, in order to attract attention and a sympathetic response.

Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounsadfishing (uncountable)
  1. InternetuncountableThe practice of writing about one’s unhappiness or emotional problems on social media, especially in a vague way, in order to attract attention and a sympathetic response.

    A report […] says that accusations of so-called sadfishing could be further harming already vulnerable children and young people with mental health problems.

    2019 October 1, Sally Weale, “Young people who seek support online being accused of ‘sadfishing,’”, in The Guardian
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of sadfish

Origin

Blend of sad + catfishing, implying that this is an exploitative and deceptive online act.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

sadfishing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sadfishing

MLA

“sadfishing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sadfishing. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sadfishing,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sadfishing.

Source: sadfishing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.