-maxx

See also: maxx

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Clipping of maximize, with a superfluous x presumably to mimic Internet slang.[1] Compare doxx.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /-mæks/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: -maxx

Suffix

-maxx (verb-forming suffix, third-person singular simple present -maxxes, present participle -maxxing, simple past and past participle -maxxed)

  1. (incel slang) Forms verb denoting an enhancement or improvement, with the goal of "maximizing" one's attractiveness, appeal, or sexual market value.
    looks + ‎-maxx → ‎looksmaxx
    surgery + ‎-maxx → ‎surgerymaxx
    trans + ‎-maxx → ‎transmaxx
  2. (Internet slang, loosely, ironic) Forms verbs for a wide range of effects unrelated to romance.
    rope (to commit suicide) + ‎-maxx → ‎ropemaxx
    hope (to be filled with hope) + ‎-maxx → ‎hopemaxx
    • 2022 February 16, SWAMP SAM (@mardirooster), Twitter[2], archived from the original on 14 August 2023:
      Made it with 5 minutes of my scheduled lunch to spare. Napmaxxed
    • 2022 October 7, Hyde (@BreatheLesss), Twitter[3], archived from the original on 14 August 2023:
      Soupmaxx immediately. If you fear veggies, soups are a great way to extract the beneficial nutrients safely.
    • 2022 December 26, Akhlys (@MetaphysicE), Twitter[4], archived from the original on 14 August 2023:
      hard work with long hours and serious legal liabilities tied to your performance - or some brunchmaxxing tech job. what would you choose?
    • 2023 April 7, bane (@banewastaken), Twitter[5], archived from the original on 14 August 2023:
      Never leaving my bed again im sleepmaxxing
    • 2023 June 28, milan (@neumilan), Twitter[6], archived from the original on 14 August 2023:
      languagemaxxing by learning french through german (not fun)
    • 2025 October 11, Nitsuh Abebe, “The Suffix That Tells Us to Ruthlessly Optimize Everything”, in The New York Times Magazine[7], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 October 2025:
      People post pictures of Dave Brubeck albums and joke about jazzmaxxing their record collections. They beachmaxx on vacations and cozymaxx under voluminous blankets. Bears prepare for hibernation by salmonmaxxing. There's a minor meme about a lifestyle of espresso and wine and impossibly long lunches — Europemaxxing. [] The types that started using “-maxxing” in earnest often did so with such hectoring self-seriousness that it was impossible not to parody.

Derived terms

See also

References

  1. ^ Liberman, Mark (24 May 2025), “Pilled-maxxing”, in Language Log[1], retrieved 24 May 2025

Further reading