About

-Maxxing, sometimes spelled -Maxing, is an internet slang suffix that is generally used to describe any activity that maximizes a desired trait. In incel subcultures on the web, it has been used to describe ways that increase one's "sexual market value." The suffix potentially stems from the slang term Looksmaxxing, which purportedly originated on PSL internet communities as an acronym that stands for the forums "PUAHate.com," "SlutHate.com" and "Lookism.net." Other terms that utilize the suffix are "statusmaxxing," "clownmaxxing" and "SEAmaxxing," among many more.

Origin

The term "maxxing" is derived from the gaming term "min-maxing"^[1] in which desired traits are maximized and undesired traits are minimized. Its original use as a suffix is unknown, but it plausibly originated from discussions in online incel communities, with an Incel Wiki article from May 26th, 2014, attributing the origins of the oldest known incorporation of the "maxxing" suffix, "looksmaxxing," to the forums PUAHate, SlutHate and Lookism.^[2][3]

The earliest known use of "maxxing" as a suffix on 4chan is a November 1st, 2015, /r9k/ post^[4] reading, "I was going to ask this today. The sentiment and user bases are similar except SH is obsessed with looksmaxxing" (seen below).

The oldest known variant is a November 20th post^[5] on the same board in the same year, reading "Comfy-maxxing. We share ideas on how to maximize our comfiness …" (seen below).

Spread

In Incel Communities

Throughout the mid-to-late 2010s, the use of the "-maxxing" suffix in incel communities denoted a variety of methods in which one could supposedly make themselves more sexually attractive. Originally written on November 20th, 2019, the Incel Wiki outlined the various ways one can "-maxx," including "moneymaxxing" and "statusmaxxing."^[6]

The word "looksmaxxing" is divided into the terms "softmaxxing" and "hardmaxxing," with the former referring to simple, low cost and non-invasive ways one can enhance their looks and the latter referring to surgery or other expensive ways to improve one's looks. This topic was notably covered in a July 24th, 2018, article from Huffpost^[7] titled "Inside Incels' Looksmaxing Obsession: Penis Stretching, Skull Implants And Rage."

Mainstream Usage

Primarily around the early 2020s, the suffix "-maxxing" became used as a way to indicate one's total and complete attention and efforts towards something.

The earliest known snowclone using the suffix ironically is "You Need To Be X-Maxxing." On November 25th, 2021, Twitter^[8] user @godclosemyeyes posted a tweet that gathered over 400 likes in nearly a year. On December 22nd, 2021, Twitter^[9] user @L0m3z posted a variation of the aforementioned tweet using the phrase "maxxing" and gathered over 600 likes in nearly a year (seen below).

On June 29th, 2022, Twitter^[10] user @Liv_Agar posted a tweet in the format, gathering over 2,000 likes in four months (seen below, left). On July 7th, Twitter user^[11] @eigenrobot then posted a tweet in the format, gathering over 1,000 likes in nearly four months (seen below, right).

Related Memes

Vaxmaxxing

Vaxmaxxing, sometimes shortened to Vaxmax, refers to memes about consistently and willingly injecting yourself with vaccines, particularly experimental ones, over a lengthy period of time in order to experience the maximum effects or experimental and unknown effects of the vaccine. Vaxmaxxing is often used in reference to the COVID-19 vaccines because of their lack of FDA approval until late August 2021. It is also defined as someone who takes all the available COVID-19 vaccines and continues to get vaccines when advised.

I was able to intercept an entire pallet of Pfizers first vaccine shipment. 4000 doses at 2 shots per dose. I've got it stored in a chest freezer in my garage. Ive been injecting myself every day, sometimes multiple times a day if I can stand it. The symptoms were terrible for the first few weeks. There were times I was completely paralyzed with pain, contorted like the Edvard munch painting and frozen in agony for hours. I became stronger and some of the worst symptoms subsided over time. I've been vaxmaxxing for almost 4 months now and I feel as though I'm becoming something greater than human now. I will continue to administer the injections into the same arm as long as possible. I'm increasing the dosages as much as I can stand and will maintain my journal.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References