Need strikethrough for a username, bio, or anywhere Markdown won't render?
Use the generator →The Discord Strikethrough Shortcut
Discord supports Markdown formatting inside messages. To strikethrough text, wrap it in double tildes:
~~this text is struck through~~
Type that into any Discord message box, channel topic, or bio field that renders Markdown, and it displays with a line through it as soon as you send it. There's no menu or button — it's purely typed syntax, which is why so many people search for it instead of finding it by clicking around.
Combining Strikethrough with Bold or Italic
Discord's Markdown supports nesting, so you can stack strikethrough with other formatting in the same message. Wrap bold text (double asterisks) inside the tildes for bold-and-crossed-out text: ~~**text**~~. For italic, use single asterisks inside the tildes: ~~*text*~~. Discord parses these from the outside in, so the symbols need to be balanced and in the right order or it will fail to render and show the raw characters instead.
When Discord's Strikethrough Doesn't Work
A few spots in Discord don't parse Markdown, so the double tildes show up literally instead of rendering: usernames, server names, and some profile fields fall into this category. If you want crossed-out text somewhere Discord won't format it for you, generate it as Unicode strikethrough text instead — it looks the same but is made of styled characters rather than Markdown, so it works anywhere plain text is accepted.
Common Reasons ~~Text~~ Fails to Render
- A space right after the opening tildes —
~~ text~~won't render; it needs to be~~text~~with no gap. - Typed inside a code block — anything wrapped in backticks intentionally ignores all Markdown, strikethrough included.
- Typed in a field that doesn't parse Markdown at all — usernames and some profile fields fall here regardless of spacing.
- Unbalanced tildes — missing a closing
~~leaves the opening pair showing as plain text.
Strikethrough in Threads, Forum Posts, and Bot Messages
Markdown strikethrough works the same way inside Discord threads and forum-channel posts as it does in regular channels — no different syntax needed. Bots can also send ~~text~~ in their messages and embeds, and Discord renders it identically to a message a person typed.
Strikethrough in Other Chat Apps
Discord isn't the only chat app with a Markdown shortcut, but the syntax isn't universal:
- Slack — single tildes:
~this~ - Microsoft Teams — no Markdown shortcut by default; select text and use the strikethrough button in the formatting toolbar instead
- Most other chat and messaging apps — no strikethrough support at all, native or Markdown, which is where a Unicode generator becomes the only option
For platforms with no formatting support whatsoever — most direct-messaging and social apps — see our social media strikethrough guide.
A Quick Note on Mobile
Markdown syntax behaves identically on mobile apps as it does on desktop for both Discord and Slack — there's no separate mobile shortcut to learn.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I strikethrough text in Discord?
Wrap the text in double tildes, like ~~this~~, and Discord renders it with a line through it in any message, channel topic, or bio that supports Markdown.
Why doesn't strikethrough work in my Discord username or status?
Those fields don't parse Markdown, so double tildes show up literally. Use a Unicode strikethrough generator there instead.
Does Slack or Microsoft Teams support strikethrough?
Slack supports it with single tildes, like ~this~. Teams has no Markdown shortcut by default — use the formatting toolbar's strikethrough button, or paste in generated Unicode text.
Can I strikethrough text on Discord mobile?
Yes — the same double-tilde Markdown works identically on Discord's mobile apps as on desktop.
Can I combine strikethrough with bold text in Discord?
Yes. Use ~~**text**~~ for bold and crossed out together, or ~~*text*~~ for italic and crossed out. The symbols need to be balanced and nested correctly.
Why does my ~~text~~ show up literally instead of rendering?
Usually a space right after the opening tildes, text inside a code block, unbalanced tildes, or a field that doesn't parse Markdown at all.
Does strikethrough work inside Discord code blocks?
No — code blocks intentionally disable all Markdown formatting, including strikethrough, so it displays exactly as typed.
Can Discord bots send strikethrough text?
Yes — bots can use the same ~~text~~ syntax in messages and embeds, and it renders the same as a message typed by a person.
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