The Comic’s Wordbook
A Dictionary for the Modern Age:
Where the Definitions Are Punchlines and the Truth Is Playing Dress-up
In 1906, Ambrose Bierce published The Cynic’s Wordbook — a collection of definitions sharp enough to draw blood and funny enough to make you ask where your soul went.
The Comic’s Wordbook is a modern homage to that masterpiece, dragging Bierce’s spirit — or at least his sneer — into a world he never lived to define: one with influencers, cryptocurrency, e-mail notifications and memory foam. He gave us definitions for things like “politician” and “lawyer” that are still raising a chuckle — and a shudder — more than a century later. Possibly because the same old white men are still running things — likely because they wrote the rules on how to stay there.
Regardless, as human nature hasn’t changed all that much — and hypocrisy keeps getting fresh material — I give you definitions for words like snowflake, inclusive, and vibes.
These are words I’ve used — and misused — on stage. These definitions are from bits that started as asides, punchlines that grew into entire rants, and observations that somehow became dictionary entries when no one stopped me.
This is not a dictionary for people who love language. It’s a dictionary for people who are suspicious of it.
So if you’ve ever wanted to know what an apology tour really is, why gamification feels like capitalism in a party hat, or what homophobia says when it thinks noone’s listening— welcome.
The Comic’s Wordbook:
Modern words. Vintage bite.
Stage-tested. Audience-approved. Ambrose Bierce, hopefully unbothered.
A definition of the word “Christmas” from the Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the phrase “thirst trap” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the word “fracking” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the word “sphinctocracy” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the word “influencer” from the Comic’s Wordbook
A definition of the word “vegan” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of “labubu” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the phrase “carbon footprint” for The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the word “woke” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition for the word “boop” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the word “vibes” from the Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the phrase “apology tour” from the Comic’s Wordbook
A definition of the word “snowflake” from the Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition for the word “tyrant” from the Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition for the word “chillax” from the Comic’s Wordbook
A definition of the phrase “mainstream media” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the phrase “social media” for The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the word “doomscroll” from The Comic’s Wordbook.
A definition of the word “gamification” for The Comic’s Wordbook.