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Passive-Aggressive emojis in the workplace

5 emojis carry the “Passive-Aggressive” tag. Here is what each one means to Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z — and how risky it is to send at work.

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Risk 5/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Smiling Face

Boomer / Gen X
Soft, polite kindness; often used in professional emails.
Millennial
Warmth, affection, or a gentle acknowledgment.
Gen Z
Highly passive-aggressive; denotes simmering rage masked by politeness.
Passive-AggressiveHostile
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Risk 4/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Slightly Frowning Face

Boomer / Gen X
Minor sadness or disappointment.
Millennial
A soft expression of sympathy or minor letdown.
Gen Z
Passive-aggressive disappointment; stronger than a regular frown.
Passive-Aggressive
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Risk 5/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Hugging Face

Boomer / Gen X
Sending a warm, friendly hug; affection.
Millennial
Friendly support, or used passive-aggressively to dismiss an argument.
Gen Z
Extremely condescending; 'bless your heart' energy.
CondescendingPassive-Aggressive
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Risk 4/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Clapping Hands

Boomer / Gen X
Applause, good job, or praise.
Millennial
'Bravo,' or clapping between words for aggressive emphasis.
Gen Z
Sarcastic slow clap, or emphasizing a strict boundary.
Passive-AggressiveEmphatic