whataboutist

English

Etymology

From what about +‎ -ist, see whataboutism.

Adjective

whataboutist (comparative more whataboutist, superlative most whataboutist)

1. Of or pertaining to whataboutism.
   • 2022 May 20, Benjamin Curtis, “Whataboutism: what it is and why it’s such a popular tactic in arguments”, in The Conversation‎^[1]:

     Similarly, in response to being told off for the state of her room, one child’s whataboutist reply will be to say: “But what about my brother’s room? His is worse.”

Noun

whataboutist (plural whataboutists)

1. One who uses whataboutism.
   • 2018 July 19, Ben Yagoda, “One Cheer for Whataboutism”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     But for the charge to really stick they have three options, none of which whataboutists usually take the trouble to perform: condemn both Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump for meeting with dictators, praise both Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump, or show how the cases are in some significant way different so that Mr. Obama deserves praise while Mr. Trump does not.