# Godwin

/ˈɡɑdwɪn/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/godwin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

to bring up Adolf Hitler or the Nazis during an online argument. People say a discussion is 'Godwined' when someone makes this comparison to try and win the debate.

For teachers: to invoke Adolf Hitler or Nazi analogies within an online discussion, typically as a fallacious rhetorical tactic. Derived from Godwin's Law, which posits that such a comparison becomes inevitable as an internet argument grows longer.

## Examples

- The forum thread was quickly Godwined after the second comment.
- Once the debate about local parking laws was Godwined, any hope for a rational compromise vanished.
- Digital historians often observe how quickly political subreddits tend to Godwin themselves when users lack the nuanced vocabulary required to address complex systemic issues without resorting to extreme historical hyperbole.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the passive voice ('the thread was Godwined') or as a reflexive verb ('to Godwin oneself').

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