The 😱 Screaming Face Emoji: Meaning, Design Inspiration & More

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Everything you need to know about the terrified, Edvard Munch-inspired emoji

Co-authored by Dan Hickey Reviewed by John Keegan

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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• 😱 (Screaming Face) Meanings
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• Replying to 😱 (Screaming Face)
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• 😱 (Screaming Face) Design
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• Tips

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AAHHH!! If you’ve ever felt the need to scream in terror over text, then you need to get familiar with the 😱 (screaming face) emoji. This immediately recognizable little face conveys terror like no other, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. In this article, we’ll go over all of the 😱 (screaming face) emoji’s meanings over text or online, plus show you how to respond to it and dive into its fascinating design inspiration. Keep on reading to—wait, watch out behind you!! 😱

Things You Should Know

• Use the 😱 (screaming face) emoji to show you’re afraid, totally surprised or shocked, or screaming with excitement.
• Respond to the 😱 (screaming face) emoji by asking what’s so scary or reciprocating the sender’s excitement, surprise, or disbelief.
• The 😱 (screaming face) emoji design was inspired by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch’s iconic 1893 masterpiece, The Scream.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

😱 (Screaming Face) Meanings

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1. 1
   Use the 😱 (screaming face) emoji to show you’re terrified or frightened. If you’re texting a friend or posting about something that gave you the heebie-jeebies, illustrate how scary it was with the 😱 (screaming face) emoji. The emoji's blue forehead represents the color draining from your face with fear, and the open-mouthed shriek symbolizes absolute terror.

   • “I can’t handle scary movies, I was literally sitting in the theater like 😱 the whole time!”
   • “It sounded like someone was trying to break in my front door 😱 but then I realized my roommate was just using the wrong key on accident.”
   • If you’re scared but not totally horrified, use the 😨 (fearful face) or 😰 (anxious face with sweat) emojis instead—all 3 emojis can be used genuinely or jokingly.
2. 2
   Express your shock, awe, or disbelief with 😱 (screaming face). The 😱 (screaming face) emoji is the highest level of surprise you can describe through texting. Send it during your biggest “omg, WHAT!?” moments or when you get unbelievable news (bad or good). In this case, the emoji symbolizes someone grabbing their face with their mouth open in total shock.

   • “I got my audition results for the musical today and I got cast as the lead!? 😱”
   • Them: “I CANNOT BELIEVE PARKER DUMPED JENNA”
     You: “😱😱😱”
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3. 3
   Show you’re excited or surprised with the 😱 (screaming face) emoji. Sometimes, the 😱 (scream) emoji can be a good sign! Use it when you’re talking about something that truly excites you or when you get a pleasant surprise that really touches you. The content of your message will cue the reader that you’re using it in a positive way.

   • “The USA is in the World Cup this year!! 😱”
   • “Marko threw me a surprise party for my birthday last night 😱❤️ He is so thoughtful!”
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Section 2 of 3:

Replying to 😱 (Screaming Face)

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1. 1
   Comfort a friend who experienced something scary. If a pal sends you the 😱 (screaming face) emoji, show them some support over text or ask what happened. Chances are it’s not too serious if they’re telling you about it over text, but it’s always a good idea to offer some moral support! Use your knowledge of the person and their message to decide if it’s an earnest message or something jokey and lighthearted.

   • Them: “Omg, the spookiest thing just happened to me 😱”
     You: “Oh no! Are you alright? What happened?”
   • Them: “Guess which coworker I just ran into at Marshall’s 😱”
     You: “Not Brenda! 😱😱”
2. 2
   Reciprocate your friend’s excitement, surprise, or disbelief. The 😱 (screaming face) emoji indicates strong feelings (good or bad), so the sender is probably looking for a validating reaction. Let them know you’re equally as surprised or excited, you’re also stunned by their news, or offer some more details if you have insight into their surprising situation.

   • Them: “You’re not gonna believe who I saw eating at Alinea tonight 😱”
     You: “Who??”
     Them: “LADY. GAGA.”
     You: “WHAT!? 😱😱😱”
   • Them: “I can’t believe Jordan is employee of the month again 😱🙄 I don’t understand it!”
     You: “Right!? I heard it’s because their dad is friends with the manager 😑”
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Section 3 of 3:

😱 (Screaming Face) Design

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1. The 😱 (screaming face) emoji is based on Edvard Munch’s The Scream. The Scream was painted in 1893 and is considered a masterpiece that influenced the Expressionist movement in art and symbolizes the anxiety of the human condition. The original painting features a figure with a gaunt, yellowish-brownish face with wide eyes, a mouth open in a silent scream, and both hands clasped to the sides of its face. In some ways, The Scream can be considered the original emoji.

   • The emoji’s blue forehead represents a cold sweat (like when you're upset, sad, or afraid) and comes from an anime and manga illustration technique.
   • The 😱 (screaming face) emoji shows that images can be an important part of written language. It’s difficult to write “scream” without thinking of The Scream.
   • Some paintings, like da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or van Gogh’s Sunflowers, are famous for their beauty while The Scream is loved for its brutal, raw emotion.

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Tips

• Try using the 🙀 (weary cat) emoji to express the same ideas as the 😱 (screaming face) emoji, but in a more joking, facetious, or cutesy way.
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• The 😱 (screaming face) emoji carries the same meanings across text and social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and more.
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