incel

noun

in·​cel ˈin-ˌsel 

plural incels

: a person (usually a man) who is or identifies as involuntarily celibate and typically expresses extreme resentment and hostility toward those who are sexually active

Examples of incel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The teenager also expressed misogynistic, antisemitic and incel views. — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 May 2026

So that would be kind of one of the goals is to disassociate from being an incel and overcome that. — Ryan Brennan april 15, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026

This is the concept that forms the bedrock of the destructive incel ideology. — David Faris, TheWeek, 8 Apr. 2026

These two origins—gaming and incel culture—make maxxing seem perverse and fringe. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

involuntary celibate

Note: The word incel apparently first appeared on a Usenet newsgroup in the late 1990's. See the article by Ben Zimmer, "How 'Incel' Got Hijacked," published online at Politico Magazine, May 8, 2018 (https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/05/08/intel-involuntary-celibate-movement-218324/).

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for incel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel