What Does Griefing & Griefer Mean in Gaming?

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Learn all about the online gaming slang known as “griefing”

Co-authored by Devin McSween Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: January 6, 2025 Fact Checked

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Definition

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Types of Griefing

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How to Use Griefing

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Origins

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Should griefing be allowed?

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Related Terms

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Video

You’re in the middle of playing your favorite online video game when one of your teammates complains about a “griefer” who is “griefing” them. But what do these terms mean? “Griefing” or being a “griefer” are slang terms in online gaming that refer to a player deliberately ruining other players’ ability to enjoy the game. In this article, we’ll go over the definition of griefing, give you examples of it and how to use it, explain where it comes from, and tell you about other related slang. Keep reading to learn more!

Griefing Definition & Meaning

In online gaming, “griefing” or being a “griefer” refers to a player’s intentional actions that irritate other players and keep them from playing the game. The player’s actions also have to be against the rules of the game. Some common examples of griefing are destroying a player’s creations or sabotaging the team.

Section 1 of 6:

Griefing Definition

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Griefing is a gaming term that means to intentionally annoy a player. In online and multiplayer video game communities, the verb “griefing” refers to a player’s deliberate actions that disrupt and prevent other players from playing and enjoying the game. Players who grief you are called “griefers.” For example, someone “griefing” you might destroy things you built, trap you to keep you from moving, or attack you when you’re on the same team.^{[1]
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- Intent is an important part of the definition:
  - Playing the game as it’s supposed to be played is not considered griefing. For instance, if friendly fire is enabled, it’s not griefing if your teammate shoots you.
  - Accidental actions are not considered griefing, even if they’re annoying or prevent you from playing the game.
- Griefers enjoy annoying and harassing other players. Their main purpose is to disrupt players, not to win the game.

Section 2 of 6:

Types of Griefing

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What’s considered griefing depends on the game you’re playing. However, some common forms of griefing include:^{[2]
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- Destroying things you created. You might encounter this in games like Minecraft.
- Sabotaging your team, such as deliberately losing. You might see this in games like Counter-Strike.
- Trapping you and preventing you from moving. You might encounter this in games like Fortnite.
- Repeatedly killing you as soon as you spawn. You might see this in games like GTA: Online.
- Playing slow or repeatedly pausing the game. You might encounter this in games like FIFA.
- Using exploits (bugs or glitches in the game), like going out of bounds.
- Working for the enemy team or giving the enemy team information.
- Stealing items you collected.
- Spamming or harassing the chat.
- Playing incompetently.
- Note: Most games have ways to report griefers, which can result in them getting kicked out of the current game or banned from playing the game entirely.

Section 3 of 6:

Examples of How to Use Griefing

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Use griefing to call out players who are annoying or bothering you. If a player is intentionally disrupting your gaming experience and enjoying it, let people know. For instance, tell the chat or report them through the game.
- “That guy is griefing us! He keeps taking our flag and bringing it to the enemy. Is there any way to kick him off the team?”
- “Does anyone know what I can do about this person griefing me? She destroys every block I put down. I’m just trying to build a house!”
- “Can someone block this griefer? They’re obviously spamming the chat so we can’t strategize and win.”
- “I swear this player is griefing us and playing poorly on purpose. How many times can you accidentally build stuff and trap us in the tunnel? I’m gonna report them.”

Section 4 of 6:

Griefing Origins

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Griefing comes from the phrase “to cause someone grief.” When someone gives or causes you grief, it means they’re annoying or irritating you. This idiom is similar to saying that someone is bothersome or a nuisance.^{[3]
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- “Grief” has 2 popular definitions: “deep sorrow” and “trouble or annoyance.” In this context, “grief” refers to “trouble or annoyance.”
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Griefing was first used as a gaming term in the 1990s. Players of games like Ultima Online and Counter-Strike started to call offensive and annoying players “griefers” and referred to them as “griefing.” The term eventually morphed into the definition it has today.^{[4]
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- For as long as online and multiplayer video games have existed, players have purposefully annoyed and disrupted other players. However, the 1990s is when the term first got its start.

Section 5 of 6:

Should griefing be allowed?

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Most game developers and players agree that griefing is unacceptable. In the gaming community, griefing is generally considered a toxic behavior because it intentionally prevents other players from playing and enjoying the game. Most game developers and players see it as a form of harassment and bullying that should get you banned from playing the game.^{[5]
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- However, some people find griefing more acceptable in games without clear rules or objectives. For instance, griefing might be more tolerated in open sandbox games like Minecraft.

Section 6 of 6:

Related Terms

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Trolling “Trolling” is a slang term that refers to someone purposefully offending and provoking people online. Unlike “griefing,” trolling behaviors aren’t just reserved for video games—trolling happens all over the Internet, like on social media and forums. No matter where you encounter a troll, their goal is to get a reaction from the people they’re upsetting.^{[6]
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- “Don’t interact with them, they’re just trolling. I’ve played with them before and they like to shoot their teammates for fun.”
- While trolling and griefing might seem similar, many gamers consider the intent different. People who troll might annoy you, but they’re generally not trying to keep you from playing or enjoying the game. For instance, a troll might kill you once in the game, while a griefer will repeatedly harass and kill you.
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Feeding “Feeding” is video game slang in online or multiplayer gaming that refers to a player purposefully getting killed by the enemy to help them. It can also generally refer to a player helping the enemy team, whether intentionally or accidentally. Many gamers consider feeding a griefing behavior because the player can cause their team to lose the game.^{[7]
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- “This girl is totally feeding the enemy team and getting killed on purpose to give them more experience. She’s trying to keep us from winning!”
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Camping In online and multiplayer video games, “camping” refers to a player who stays in one spot to kill other players instead of roaming around the map to find them. Lots of gamers think camping is a griefing behavior because it ruins other players’ enjoyment of the game, especially when a player camps where people respawn so they can kill them as soon as they’re back in the game.^{[8]
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- “Can we do anything about this player who’s camping on the tower? They keep sniping us before we can get close enough to kill them.”
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Noob “Noob” or “n00b” is a derogatory slang term that means someone is a beginner at doing something; it’s another way to say that they’re a newbie. “Noob” is usually used as an insult in the video game community to describe someone who’s inexperienced or bad at playing the game.^{[9]
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- “Ugh, that guy is such a noob. He keeps getting us killed. He must have started playing the game today.”
- “Noob” isn’t exclusively a video game term. You can use noob to describe anyone who seems new or inexperienced at doing something.