To strikethrough text in Discord, place two tilde characters on each side of the words you want crossed out. The Markdown pattern is ~~your words~~. This is useful for showing an edit, marking a completed item in a casual message or creating a playful correction. You do not need a bot or a Nitro subscription for basic strikethrough formatting.
Discord strikethrough syntax
Type ~~This plan is canceled~~ and send the message. Discord displays the enclosed text with a line through it. The two opening and two closing tildes matter; a single tilde is not equivalent. It is a formatting wrapper around the message, not a command sent to a server administrator.
How to cross out text on desktop
- Open a Discord text channel or direct message.
- Type your message normally.
- Add
~~before the words and another~~after them. - Preview if your client shows a formatting preview, then send.
On some desktop versions you may also be able to highlight text and choose formatting from a contextual toolbar. Keyboard and toolbar behavior varies, while the documented Markdown syntax is predictable.
How to strikethrough on iPhone or Android
Open the mobile keyboard’s symbols panel, insert two tildes, type the phrase and close with two more tildes. The tilde symbol may appear behind a secondary punctuation menu depending on your keyboard. The same text markup generally works in the mobile app; there is no separate ‘mobile-only strikethrough code’.
Combine strikethrough with other Discord formatting
Discord also supports bold, italic, underline and spoiler styles. The order of wrapping markers matters when you combine them. For a simple crossed-out correction, keep formatting minimal so the message remains easy to read. A code block will usually display Markdown symbols literally rather than render ordinary formatting, which can explain why your example does not appear crossed out.
Why your strikethrough is not showing
Only one tilde on each side
Use two, not one. Some keyboards autocorrect punctuation, so inspect the message before sending.
Typing inside a code span
Backticks tell Discord to show code-like text. If you wrap strikethrough syntax inside backticks, it will appear as literal characters instead of a crossed-out phrase.
Missing closing marker
Make sure the formatting is balanced. An unfinished wrapper may stay visible as raw punctuation.
When should you use it?
A strikethrough is clearer for a casual correction than deleting a message and leaving readers confused about what changed. It is less suitable as the only indicator of an important safety warning, because crossed-out text can be harder for some users to read. Consider writing ‘Updated:’ as well when accuracy matters.
FAQ
What symbol makes Discord text crossed out?
Two tildes before and after the text.
Does strikethrough work in Discord DMs?
Yes, basic message formatting works in direct messages and channels.
Do I need Nitro?
No.
Why can I see the tildes?
Check that you entered two opening and closing markers and are not using a code block.
For other ways Discord presents chat identity, our Discord custom typing indicator guide explains that separate feature. For up-to-date Markdown syntax, read the official Discord Markdown Text 101 guide.
