- The black in blackpill is intended to carry the sense of “gloom, hopelessness”. The use of black and darkness for words conveying a negative connotation has been common throughout the history English, such as referring to a morally corrupt person as being black-hearted or characterizing a period of depression as being dark days. The term is most likely formed analogously from redpill and whitepill.
blackpill
verb Compounding; Analogy
To cause someone to feel hopeless or pessimistic
Etymology : Compounding of black and pill, analogous to redpill and whitepill
Source : “Seeing the results of the election have blackpilled me to the concept of democracy.” (conversation with friend, 11-04-2020).
Last modified: 17 November 2020