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The Absurd Humor Archive

Word Archive

Every reaction word is a compressed novel. The Archive has been reading them carefully.

The Archive's books

These words are the subjects of the Archive's 261-page literary experiments:

EW · UGH · LOL · YIKES · MEH

Disgust and discomfort

EW · YUCK · UGH · EEK · GAH

Surprise and alarm

YIKES · WOW · OH · OOH · WHOA

Laughter and levity

LOL · HEH · HAHA · WOO · YAY

Indifference and ambivalence

MEH · HMM · HM · MHM

Frustration and exasperation

UGH · ARGH · DOH · HMPH · BOO

Agreement and negation

YEAH · YEP · NAH · NOPE · MHM

Frequently asked questions

What is a reaction word?

A reaction word is a single interjection — like ew, ugh, or meh — that conveys immediate emotional content without conventional grammar. See the full guide.

How many reaction words are there in English?

English has hundreds of recognized interjections and reaction words. The Archive has documented dozens and continues expanding the catalog.

Related

What Is a Reaction Word · History of the Reaction Word · The Archive