Shows total shock, amazement, or mind-blown surprise. It’s perfect for “I can’t believe this!” moments — whether something is unbelievably cool, confusing, or ridiculous.
You just learned your quiet coworker once toured with a famous rock band.
wait WHAT 🤯 that’s insane
🤯 can express both positive and negative shock — “That’s genius!” or “That’s unbelievable (in a bad way).” It’s all about intensity, not mood.
In Japanese chats, 🤯 is less common and might be read as “頭がパンクした” (“my brain exploded”) — used for mental overload or information shock, not amazement.
Overusing 🤯 can make your messages sound overly dramatic; in calmer chats, try 😳 or 😮 for a softer surprise.
See what they share and how they differ to choose the right one.
Both share a wide-eyed look and dramatic surprise. 🤯 signals an extreme, overwhelming reaction, a sense of mind blown by intensity. 😲 carries a plainer, more immediate astonishment, a stunned silence with a round open mouth. The tone of 😲 is more literal and readable, less comic or surreal than 🤯. 😲 suggests plain disbelief or shock without the sense of something exploding beyond comprehension, and it reads as straightforward amazement rather than an overloaded brain.
You might use 🤯 to respond to something truly mind-bending, confusing, or outrageously impressive in informal chats. Use 😲 to express big, wide-eyed surprise at something astonishing or unexpectedly great when you want a clear “wow” reaction without the sense of being overwhelmed.
Related emojis that share similar meanings or usage.
