WORD ARCHIVE
YIKES
YIKES is the word for the moment something goes wrong — a reaction of alarm, sympathetic embarrassment, or startled recognition. The Archive has given it 261 pages.
What YIKES does
YIKES covers a specific emotional moment: the cringe of witnessing something awkward, the small alarm of something slightly scary, the sympathetic response to someone else's misfortune. It is kinder than 'ew' and lighter than 'oh no.'
YIKES as contemporary vocabulary
YIKES experienced a resurgence in internet culture as a reaction to awkward social situations, bad takes, and self-aware cringe. The Archive's books capture these words at the height of their cultural currency.