The 30 Most Iconic Dank Memes and Their Hidden Meanings

Memes are no longer just the silly pictorial jokes made to make people laugh. They’ve become a cultural phenomenon in their own right and have taken over the internet (and offline life too!). Memes do not only reflect, express, and contribute to culture but also produce it. Dank memes are the epitome of this. These memes go so deep in absurdity that they feel like an abyss of ironic darkness, which is why they’re super funny. But there’s more to them than meets the eye… or just our laughter.

Whether you’re an internet geek who knows his way around dank memes or someone who has seen one randomly appear in Google results, you’ll know some of these most iconic dank memes as lies or dreams those hilarious “This is fine” dog meme illustrations or the evergreen Spongebob sarcasms, for example. What makes them so iconic? Why do some dank memes get such a legendary status? We break down 30 all-time viral dank meme illustrations for you here along with their deeper hidden meaning and significance.

What Makes a Meme “Dank”?

First things first, what does the term “dank meme” even mean? Chances are, you’ve heard the phrase thrown around but didn’t really know what it meant. Originally, “dank” was used as a term to describe something of high quality—specifically in reference to marijuana. But it eventually evolved into a way to characterize memes that are purposefully absurd, surreal, and sometimes even mildly troubling. Dank memes are typically doused with extreme irony, allusions to internet culture, or satirical comments on society. They aren’t just jokes—they’re a form of expressing complicated emotions or thoughts in visual form.

And that’s why they’re so iconic. A dank meme is a slapdash meme, a thing or an idea that shouldn’t be, and by no rights does it deserve to be anything else. Nonetheless, it goes ahead and becomes something. In being perceived as something not worth the effort, such memes become absurdly suggestive of the broader world of possibilities beyond themselves, strange flecks of what could-I-possibly

30 Most Iconic Dank Memes

1. “This Is Fine” Dog

• Let’s start with probably one of the most iconic dank memes ever, the “This Is Fine” Dog. In the picture you see a cartoon dog sitting in a room where everything is on fire; he simply sips his coffee and says, “This is fine.” It’s how a lot of people deal with stressful or chaotic situations: just keep pretending things are okay even when they’re really not.

2. “Mocking SpongeBob”

• Mocking SpongeBob is a composite name given to a captioned image of SpongeBob SquarePants, from the cartoon of the same name, leaning over and imitating or mocking something in a distorted manner.

• Ah, Mocking SpongeBob. This meme shows a picture of SpongeBob SquarePants in a surreal, bent position, and the caption is written in alternating capital and lowercase letters. It’s basically meant to be read in a sarcastic tone when someone says something so stupid or hypocritical you can’t even handle it.

3. “Distracted Boyfriend”

• We’ve all seen it: the picture of a guy checking out another woman while his girlfriend looks on in disapproval. The Distracted Boyfriend meme quickly went viral, and for good reason—it’s a hilarious take on the classic “should I do this, or should I do that?” dilemma. The meme is representative of constantly feeling like we have to choose between desires, interests, or responsibilities.

4. “Expanding Brain”

• “Expanding Brain” is great because it’s so straightforward yet endlessly applicable. We’ve all been through that moment where we’re trying to get something done, but half our brain would rather do anything else. This meme captures that feeling perfectly and categorically.

• Now, let’s get a bit more scholarly with the Expanding Brain meme. This one consists of a sequence of four pictures of brains, each significantly more lit up than the last to signify increasing levels of thought or comprehension. The concepts presented also get greater and greater as the brain “grows”—usually from basic to high-minded or absurd.

5. “Surprised Pikachu”

• Who’s more universally known than Pikachu, really? The Surprised Pikachu meme takes advantage of Pikachu’s shocked facial expression, most often in conjunction with a scenario that everyone would’ve assumed was coming despite the fact it still catches us by surprise. It’s not a complicated one: that split-second look of utter confusion we all do when the writing is on the wall but we’re dumbfounded regardless.
• This meme struck a chord with many people because, well, we’ve all been there. Be it an expected outcome or something you’ve done a million times before, Surprised Pikachu encapsulates that “I can’t believe I was not expecting that to happen” feeling.

Check out these 37 funny dog memes that will have you and your friends laughing out loud. Perfect for anyone in need of a good laugh!

6. “Two Buttons”

• Another classic in the dank meme world is the Two Buttons meme. It features a character sweating nervously with two buttons in front of them, each representing a choice that conflicts with the other. The absurdity is that both the choices are either equally good or equally bad.
• This meme shows a situation we’ve all been in before. Whether it’s over small things like what to eat or big things like career changes and relationships, sometimes it feels impossible to decide because both options are just so good (or bad).

7. “Is This a Pigeon?”

• This one is a bit weird, but it’s also hilarious. Is This a Pigeon? The meme is taken from a scene in an old Japanese anime. In the show, one of the characters mistakes a butterfly for a pigeon. We’ve all made that mistake, right?
• The clip has become somewhat of an internet sensation and is frequently used when people don’t understand something or completely miss the point of what’s happening. It’s funny because we’ve all been there.

8. “The Rock Driving”

• You’ve probably seen the meme where Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is sitting in a car, looking intensely at someone, with a totally off-the-wall caption that has absolutely nothing to do with what’s going on in the photo. The The Rock Driving meme is one of those examples of dank memes that, for no reason at all, become universally hilarious.
• This meme thrives on randomness—whether it’s a political message, an absurd comment, or just a funny situation. It’s one of those dank memes that leaves you scratching your head but laughing at the same time.

9. “I’m the Captain Now.”

• This meme originated from a quote in the film Captain Phillips, when a Somali pirate says, “I’m the captain now.” It generally is used for times of power or control, but more often than not, it’s seen in ridiculous scenarios.
• What makes the I’m the Captain Now meme so great is that it can mean serious situations where someone has seized power/authority, or it could also mean someone trying to take charge/being authoritative in the most ridiculous, inappropriate, and unexpected way possible.

10. The “Roll Safe” Meme

• The Roll Safe meme features a guy tapping his head as if to imply he’s dropping some serious knowledge, but in reality, it’s almost always the exact opposite. This meme is used to point out that people often believe they’re being really smart when they’re actually just making things more difficult.
• It’s really one of the best examples we have of a dank meme referencing bad advice or bad decision-making, but doing so in a way that makes us laugh from how absurd it is.

11. “Whomst’d’ve”

• Whomst’d’ve is a meme that’s all about humorously overcomplicating language. It’s used to mock the pretentious way people sometimes phrase things. The meme features a fake version of proper English—just complicated enough to sound smart but absurd in its complexity. The phrase “Whomst’d’ve” is often used sarcastically to mock someone trying too hard to sound intellectual. It’s a playful way to poke fun at those who unnecessarily complicate things.

12. “Change My Mind”

• The meme comes from a photograph of a man seated at a table with a sign that says “Change My Mind.” It’s used to make extreme, often ridiculous statements and then pretends to be open for discussion. The joke or the challenge is really in taking him up on it—seeing if you can, but knowing that you probably can’t. But it’s such an effective way of expressing your very strong stance on any issue you want! Political or nonsensical.

13. “Hide the Pain Harold”

• Hide the pain. harold is a meme featuring a man who is clearly in some form of mental or emotional anguish but whose face displays only the feelings of mild discomfort we all prefer to share with casual acquaintances. It’s perfect for anyone who has ever smiled through a searing inner monologue or been forced to appear composed during a trying moment while feeling quite the opposite inside. In other words, it feels familiar.

14. “Stonks”

• Stonks is a purposely bad meme that features a man in front of a stock graph with the word “Stonks” (a mispronunciation of “stocks”) written underneath. The meme is most often used to describe someone’s poor financial decisions or to poke fun at people who believe they’ve made intelligent moves with their money when, really, they haven’t.
• Think of this dad joke as an example: “Son: I’ll work at the bakery. I Knead dough. Dad: Do you have enough bread already? Son: Leave me alone.” Terribly funny, right?

15. “I’m Not a Robot”

• This meme comes straight from the universally despised CAPTCHA verification on the internet. The image usually shows someone clicking “I’m not a robot” in frustration, often with an image of a person or animal that seems confused. The meme is relatable because we all have moments where the CAPTCHA makes us feel like we’re too dumb to pass some sort of ridiculously simple quiz.

16. “What if I told you?”

• The “What If I Told You?” meme comes from The Matrix and shows the character Morpheus giving some kind of philosophical piece of advice. The meme is usually used in order to make an ironic, unexpected, or humorous twist. It’s turned into a great meme to show something that seems “mind-blowing” but is either funny or just plain stupid/absurd. If you’re looking for a meme where you show something seemingly profound but then actually deliver the punchline, this is it.

17. “Pikachu Face”

• This meme revolves around Pikachu’s shocked or confused expression in a certain scene of the Pokémon (anime) series. It’s become the face to make when something shocking or surprising happens. That look that basically says, “I can’t believe this just happened.”

18. “The Most Interesting Man in the World”

• This meme stars a distinguished-looking old man with the caption, “I don’t always [do X], but when I do, I [do Y].” It’s used to convey a sense of exaggerated insight or knowledge. Whether it’s calling someone out on their bullsh*t or just making an ironic statement, this meme mirrors that feeling of someone who’s “seen it all” and can read through the lines.

19. “Grumpy Cat”

• A cat named Grumpy Cat became an internet sensation due to her permanently grumpy facial expression. The Grumpy Cat meme is one of the most popular dank memes that shows us how to make light of frustration, irritation, or negativity. We can all relate to this one when it comes to minor day-to-day irritations or larger letdowns in life.

20. “Pepe the Frog”

• Pepe the Frog was originally a harmless character in a comic, but it has become one of the most pervasive dank memes. The face of Pepe is remixed as different characters to express sadness and frustration. It has been controversial, but you can’t deny that Pepe is one of the most popular and malleable meme forms.

21. “Me and the Boys”

• This meme usually features a group of animated or real characters with captions expressing a feeling of camaraderie or collective action. It’s used when people feel a strong bond with their friends, typically as a result of shared activities or situations.

22. “First World Problems”

• ‘First World Problems’ is a meme that highlights the kind of inconsequential complaints that people in more economically prosperous nations frequently make. It’s a joke, but it’s also a way to remind ourselves how unimportant our complaints are in the grand scheme of things and how lucky we are compared to many other people.
• It’s a meme designed for us to laugh at ourselves, and it’s usually used with ironic self-deprecation.

23. “No One: Absolutely No One:”

• This meme is formatted the following way: “No One: Absolutely No One:” and then something that makes absolutely no sense or is completely random. It’s used to call out someone for doing something completely uncalled for or ridiculous without any type of motivation, as if they’re trying to one-up everyone else on how absurd they can be.

24. “Crying Jordan”

• Crying Jordan features the famous picture of Michael Jordan crying during his Hall of Fame induction, but it is typically used to represent instances of failure or embarrassment. From a sports defeat to a personal disappointment to even a comedic letdown, Crying Jordan embodies the essence of an epic fail.

25. “You Had One Job”

• This meme is used to poke fun at someone who couldn’t do what they were specifically asked or required to do. “You had one job” memes are often followed by a photo of something ridiculously wrong or out of place, most commonly in a work setting, that makes one question how it happened in the first place.

26. “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out)

• FOMO, the fear of missing out, is something we’ve all felt before. This dank meme typically features a photo of someone feeling excluded, like when they learn their pals are off having fun and they weren’t invited. It’s the meme version of that moment when you realize you’re not part of something, with relatability being the element that makes this funny.

27. “The Crying Woman”

• This meme originates from a photograph of a crying woman while pointing, used as an expression of anger or heightened emotion towards the subject of another person’s frustration or drama. The meme uses hyperbole to react humorously to such scenarios.

28. “The Ancient Aliens Guy”

• This meme uses an image of Giorgio Tsoukalos from the show Ancient Aliens, in which he appears to be confidently gesturing that he knows the explanation for something that can’t actually be explained. The meme provides ridiculous explanations, especially when someone is trying to explain something else ridiculous—like “This is how I got so much work done today” as a heading above an empty fridge.

29. “Yao Ming Face”

• The “Yao Ming Face” comes from a photograph of former NBA player Yao Ming wearing a subtle smile during a post-game press conference in 2009. The image is used to portray someone’s reaction of intense disgust, astonishment, or disbelief to something that’s said on the internet, often in response to images or photoshops of the original. It’s basically an image macro version of Jim Halpert’s deadpan look into the office camera on The Office when somebody says something stupid.

30. “Evil Kermit”

• The Evil Kermit meme stars Kermit the Frog in a hood with a dark incarnation of himself, representing his inner demon. It speaks to those moments when you’re experiencing a moral crisis or battling the decision to do something you know isn’t right—and then just give in. We’ve all been there.

Need a midweek laugh? Check out these 35 funny Wednesday memes that’ll make your Hump Day much better!

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