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Definition of shadowban

shadowban

/ˈʃædoʊˌbæn/
shad · ow · ban
Plural:shadowbans
•
Adjective:shadowbanned
•
Past Simple:shadowbanned
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Past Participle:shadowbanned
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Present Participle:shadowbanning
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shadowban Lexical Profile

shadowban Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To block or partially restrict a user or their content on an online forum or social media platform without their knowledge, typically by making their posts and comments invisible to other users.

Example

"Social media moderators often shadowban spam accounts so the automated bots do not realize they need to create new profiles."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

An act or instance of blocking or partially restricting a user or their content on an online platform without notifying them, so that their posts remain visible to themselves but hidden from other users.

Example

"The content creator suspected a shadowban after noticing a sudden, drastic drop in audience engagement."

Synonyms
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• Nearby Words

shadiness
shading
shadow
shadowban
shadowbox
shadowboxing
shadower

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 2000s by moderators of the online forum Something Awful, combining 'shadow' (denoting covertness or invisibility) and 'ban' (to prohibit or exclude).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shadowban. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shadowban
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