interrobang means the nonstandard punctuation mark ⟨‽⟩ (a combination of ⟨?⟩ and ⟨!⟩), which may be used at the end of a sentence to express excitement or disbelief, or to indicate that it is a rhetorical question. Lexicurio rates it Evocative — a strength score of 53 out of 100.
Why this word is great
INTERROBANG — [Noun] A nonstandard punctuation mark (‽) that fuses the question mark and exclamation point into a single glyph for simultaneous query and outcry. Its name is a 1962 coinage by Martin K. Speckter, a deliberate blend of 'interrogation (point)', from French *point d'interrogation* ("question mark"), and 'bang', printers' slang for an exclamation point. Unlike a “rhetorical question,” which names a figure of speech, or an “exclamation point,” which signals emphasis alone, the interrobang is the tangible form for a specific, fractured state of mind. It is the visual equivalent of a sputtered “What?!” at a baffling headline, the ink-stamped glyph for "You did what‽" scrawled in a margin, or the typeset embodiment of a joke that lands as an accusation—a minor monument to the fact that our sharpest feelings often arrive grammatically confused.
noun
- The nonstandard punctuation mark ⟨‽⟩ (a combination of ⟨?⟩ and ⟨!⟩), which may be used at the end of a sentence to express excitement or disbelief, or to indicate that it is a rhetorical question.“Has anyone seen an interrobang? It's a newly invented punctuation mark that looks like this: ‽ A question mark with an exclamation point superimposed, it's meant to convey that nuance of feeling—a mixture of query and surprise—that people have in mind when they say "Really?", also meaning "Really!", or "How about that‽" […] The cure for incredibility is not more punctuation, but more plain talk. W”
- A combination of a question mark and an exclamation mark; ⟨!?⟩ or ⟨?!⟩.“Interrobang — !?, ?!, or ‽ / What?! You’ve never heard of the interrobang!? Really? Well, now you have, so all is forgiven. An interrobang is […] used to end sentences where you really want both the exclamation point and the question mark. […] The word is used to describe both the two side by side (!? or ?!) or the combined symbol (‽).”
verb
- To exclaim and question at the same time.““I think I can help Carli, but I have to move fast. Federal agents are going to descend on this place like locusts in about twenty minutes, max, and they’ll detain everyone. It’ll be days, at least, before they’re done interrobanging around.””