AI Neologism
English Language

badnewsrunner

/ˈbædˌnjuːz ˈrʌnə/nounVerified New

Society & Philanthropy

Also in: Hiobsfreund (Deutsch) · malanoz (Español) · courmalheur (Français)

The friend group member who agrees to deliver the message nobody else will deliver.

The badnewsrunner takes the hard sentence — the cancellation, the no, the diagnosis in the group — and delivers it kindly, once, to everyone. They absorb the first reaction so the group can have its second. The role is honoured and avoided, simultaneously.

Etym. — bad news + runner — the friend who carries the message so others don't carry the blame.

Rel. — groupear · chatdiplomat

Novelty check: APPROVE

Evidence log

No query log recorded.

Coined by an anonymous contributor · AI-assisted · first submitted 2026-11-14 · published 2026-11-14

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