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virtue signaling

Something conservatives accuse liberals of doing any time they show any virtue at all.
This person told me I should be nice to gay people, I'm so sick of this virtue signaling!
by q359 June 27, 2023
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Virtue Signal Sarah

A person, usually a white woman, who presents themselves as ultra liberal on social media, self-identifies as a vegan, leftist, feminist (loves labels), usually has lots of tattoos as it is part of their curated woke / progressive / punk-rock identity (costume). These people are very active on IG and are constantly posting and reposting virtue signals to compensate for not knowing who they are or what they stand for, living for affirmations from like-minded friends.

These people are so thirsty for that dopamine rush of a ‘view’ or ‘like’ that they rarely check sources and vet what they’re actually posting, and often repost things that aren’t factual, or in-line with progressive ideology. But do not dare call them out on it. These people will challenge authorities, governments, the police, via Instagram, but if you challenge THEM to be better, they will get flustered, break down, name call, and un-follow you. Mind you, these people are only "activists" online. They almost never participate in real life direct action.

These people tend to pursue careers as social workers or therapists, and are very public about it — also part of their woke ensemble to "do good in the world (because I'm a good person and I need you to know that)". The truth is that they are insecure and immature people who are grasping for identity. They are usually privileged in that they are white and receive financial support from their parents, well past their 20's and 30's.
Oh boy, another Virtue Signal Sarah (VSS) re-posting more Black Lives Matters content than all my Black friends combined.
by Leviiiii March 14, 2023
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Virtue Shark

An internet user (usually on tumblr, discord, or reddit) who makes convoluted claims that a group, event, or idea is morally wrong in order to make themselves seem morally right. Most of the times, their methods involve claiming that something completely innocent and irrelevant is bigoted in some elaborate way. They are common in fandom spaces.
"I've been getting so much hate for writing characters X and Y as romantic in my fanfiction because some virtue shark had to accuse me of "perpetuating the belief" that male and female characters can't be friends. That's not even something I said!
by Dr0w0u$ April 21, 2025
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Virtue Grifter

One who aligns with attitudes or social movements for personal or professional gain.
My city councilor is such a virtue grifter.
by Amacord April 6, 2024
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Similar to da "grandmother approach", but more of a generalized "association wif da elderly" type of "gate-pass" to other people's patience, respect, willingness to accommodate you, etc.; i.e., if you make sure to tell others dat you are procuring an object for and/or assisting a slight-figured and warm/gentle-natured "neighborhood gramma", they'll be all like, "Awwwww... how kind and thoughtful of you!" regarding said endeavor, and thus they'll be more willing to assist you themselves, give you permission/clearance to perform whatever tasks/activities are necessary to complete your helpful task, let you obtain one or more related objects/resources/services either for free or at a much-lower cost, etc, due to their respect and appreciation for older folks and --- by extension --- anyone who's trying to provide "aid and attendance" to one or more of said "wrinkle-city residents".
Da likeable owner at da local general store at da Amish community in northern Maine extended a similar style of praising generosity to me as da classic "sweet little old lady" virtue might have garnered me --- if I was repairing an item for one of da Amish families in his community, said pleasant-and-mild-mannered proprietor would let me have da necessary fasteners and other hardware-materials for free.
by QuacksO January 18, 2026
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