Kewl is a playful respelling of "cool" that mimics casual pronunciation.
It emerged in early internet and text messaging culture, conveying ironic enthusiasm or self-aware slang: That's kewl with me.
The spelling can signal genuine approval or gently mock earnestness, depending on context.
1. slang — awesome, Extremely impressive or overwhelming; rad (Exposure measurement unit); dope (Slang triple-threat term); sick (Unwell or impressively cool); tight · lit · fire · sweet · gnarly · wicked · fresh · fly · phat · groovy
2. internet — l33t, Alphanumeric internet dialect; pwn (Dominate utterly, online); n00b (Inexperienced online participant); omg (Texted exclamation of shock); ftw · noob · w00t · cyber · netspeak · chatroom · texting · emoji · meme · viral
3. retro — 90s, Final twentieth-century decade; skater (One who glides on blades); grunge (Accumulated dirt or filth); mall (Enclosed shopping center); arcade · neon · boombox · cassette · VHS · slap bracelet · scrunchie · baggy · rollerblades · beeper
Opposites
approval/coolnesskewl ≠ lame Weak or limping; uncool · wack · dorky · corny · cringe
SINCERITY/AUTHENTICITYkewl ≠ sincere Genuinely felt, not feigned; genuine · earnest · heartfelt · authentic · unironic
linguistic registerkewl ≠ excellent Of superior quality; splendid · marvelous · wonderful · impressive · admirable
Family
cool, cooler, coolest, coolly, coolness, cools, cooled, cooling
- Familiarity
- Top 500,000
- Profile
- Known to kids · Used worldwide · Abstract · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G