πŸ˜’

Unamused Face

uhn-uh-MYOOZD feys
Unicode: 1F612
Added: 0.6
Category: Smileys & Emotion

Definitions

1
Emotional Β· Disapproval Very Common
Expresses skepticism, disapproval, or annoyance. Shows the sender is unimpressed, irritated, or judging something negatively without being overtly angry.
Often used in response to disappointing news, dubious claims, or irritating situations. Can appear passive-aggressive in professional contexts.
Got another email about mandatory overtime this weekend πŸ˜’
Personal messaging
He said he'd pay me back 'soon' πŸ˜’
Friend group chat
When someone cuts in line and pretends not to notice πŸ˜’
Social media comment
One of the most versatile negative reaction emojis, serving as a milder alternative to anger emojis while still conveying clear disapproval.
2
Emotional Β· Skepticism Common
Conveys skepticism, disbelief, or suspicion about something. Indicates the sender doubts the truth or sincerity of what's being discussed.
Often follows dubious statements or claims. Can be used to question someone's motives or truthfulness without direct confrontation.
Sure you were 'just working late' πŸ˜’
Private message
My roommate says he'll clean the kitchen 'tomorrow' πŸ˜’
Friend group chat
Functions as a digital side-eye, allowing users to express doubt without explicit accusation, preserving plausible deniability.

Evolution Timeline

2010
Introduced in Unicode 6.0 as one of the original emotion emoji set.
Growing need for expressing subtle negative emotions in digital communication.
2015
Usage shifted from pure annoyance to include skepticism and side-eye implications.
Rise of social media calling-out culture and public expressions of doubt.
2018
Became strongly associated with passive-aggressive communication in workplace messaging.
Proliferation of workplace chat platforms requiring more nuanced emotional expression.
2021
Increasingly used in political contexts to express voter disillusionment and skepticism.
Growing political polarization and distrust in public institutions.

Cultural Context

Functions as a digital micro-aggression in workplace contexts, allowing expression of disapproval while maintaining plausible deniability about the intensity of negative feelings.
Represents the nonverbal side-eye glance that exists across cultures but is particularly codified in Western communication as indicating skepticism.
One of the few negative emotion emojis widely adopted across all age groups, though with subtle differences in usage contexts and frequency.
Design varies significantly across platforms, with some versions appearing more annoyed (Apple) while others look more skeptical (Google), affecting interpretation.
Evolved from early emoticon culture where expressing nuanced negative emotions was difficult with text-only symbols like :/ or ://

Regional Variations

Australia Often used more playfully than in other regions, frequently in banter between friends.
United Kingdom Often used with dry humor or understated disappointment, particularly when expectations aren't met.
United States Often paired with sarcastic statements or used to express mild frustration at everyday annoyances.

Generational Usage

Gen_X: Typically used literally to express genuine annoyance or skepticism, especially in family group chats or commenting on news articles.
Gen_Z: Frequently used in reaction to cringe content, performative activism, or inauthenticity. Often paired with other emojis for enhanced meaning.
Older: Less frequently used, but when employed, generally indicates actual disappointment rather than sarcastic or ironic intent.
Millennials: Common in workplace contexts to express frustration with corporate policies or work-life balance issues. Used more sparingly than by Gen Z.

Common Combinations

πŸ˜’πŸ’…
Unbothered disapproval; judging while remaining above the situation.
Popular in Gen Z communication to express judgment while maintaining an air of superiority.
πŸ˜’πŸ™„
Extreme skepticism or annoyance; the digital equivalent of an eye-roll with a side-eye.
Used to express heightened disbelief or exasperation beyond what a single emoji conveys.
πŸ˜’πŸ‘€
Suspicious disbelief; watching skeptically or catching someone in a lie.
Often used in group chats when someone makes a dubious claim or excuse.
πŸ˜’πŸ€¦
Disappointed judgment; expressing both annoyance and embarrassment at someone's actions.
Common reaction to public figures making questionable statements or decisions.
πŸ˜’βœ¨
Sarcastic amazement; mocking something presented as special or impressive.
Often used to satirize overhyped products, events, or announcements.

Related Emojis

πŸ™„ Eye-roll emoji expressing similar skepticism but with more exasperation than judgment. πŸ˜‘ Expressionless face conveying similar annoyance but with more resignation than active judgment. 😏 Smirking face with similar side-eye quality but expressing smugness rather than disapproval. 😀 Face with steam expressing similar disapproval but with more intensity and anger. πŸ‘€ Eyes emoji often combined with unamused face to enhance skepticism or surveillance.