theorycel

English

Etymology

From theory +‎ -cel.

Noun

theorycel (plural theorycels)

1. (Internet slang, derogatory) Someone (not necessarily an incel) interested in extremely academic and abstract ideas, but having little to no practical skills.
   • 2020 November 10, @Martposting, Twitter‎^[1], archived from the original on 29 September 2023:

     theorycels trying not to use the word bourgeois in a tweet

   • 2021 January 5, Geoff Shullenberger, “(post title)”, in Outsider Theory‎^[2], archived from the original on 2023-06-05:

     Theorycels in Trumpworld

   • 2022 January 24, Miles Klee, “The Depressing Rise of 'Wordcels' and 'Numbercels'”, in MEL Magazine‎^[3], archived from the original on 2023-09-24:

     You can understand a "wordcel" to be an individual with significant training and expertise in the humanities, particularly reading and writing — a "theorycel" being the most heightened version, the cloistered pedant studying literally everything that pertains to their area of interest, yet unable to convert those ideas into practical realities.

   • 2022 September 1, @grecian_the, Twitter‎^[4], archived from the original on 29 September 2023:

     rhythm footwork and timing at 230lbs because according to twitter training theorycels, i lack 'endurance and agility'

   • 2023 March 31, u/shangumdee, “Anon explains the technology behind AI”, in Reddit‎^[5], r/4chan, archived from the original on 29 September 2023:

     Every sophisticatard thought basic jobs would automated so they could focus on useless art and theorycel ramblings no one was gonna read

   • 2023 July 17, @Wired73813850, Twitter‎^[6], archived from the original on 29 September 2023:

     Your favourite twitter theorycel is, at best, half as well-read as you think he is. Probably more like 1/10th in most cases. Read old books, not tweets by 22-year-olds who read old books.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:theorycel.

Further reading

• “theorycel”, in Urban Dictionary, launched 1999.