TW
3 synonyms for TW, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A short note placed before a post, video or article to warn that it contains material some readers may find distressing, short for 'trigger warning'.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
trigger warning
content warning
CW
How to use TW
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tw: violence
tw for
add a tw
Informal internet usage, most common on social media, forums and fan communities.
Etymology
In the warning sense, an initialism of 'trigger warning'.
Full origin of TW →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TW and CW?
TW stands for trigger warning and CW for content warning. They are used almost interchangeably, though many people prefer CW because it covers anything a reader might want to avoid, while TW suggests specifically material that could trigger a trauma response.
How do you write a TW properly?
Put it before the content, not after, and name the subject: 'TW: eating disorders' is useful, a bare 'TW' is not. Leaving a blank line or a few line breaks after it gives readers a chance to scroll away.
Does TW always mean trigger warning?
No. Depending on context it is also the country code for Taiwan, an old shorthand for Twitter, and in engineering can abbreviate other terms. Online, in front of a post, it almost always means trigger warning.
