You clicked because you saw the promise: groundbreaking inventions and literal memes that are straight to the point but still hilarious. This list is a curated collection of 16 such gems—plus a few bonus finds—that nail the art of being cleverly direct. Each one delivers a punchline or a concept that needs no explanation. Get ready to discover the internet’s most straightforwardly funny corners.
Table of Contents(Click to Toggle)
- Why Literal Memes Win the Internet
- 1. Bored Panda
- 2. Literally Memes
- 3. Funny or Die
- 4. Cheezburger
- 5. 9GAG
- 6. Reddit r/literally
- 7. Imgur
- 8. Memedroid
- 9. Quickmeme
- 10. Someecards
- 11. Meme Generator
- 12. Know Your Meme
- 13. Giphy
- 14. Tenor
- 15. Meme Center
- 16. Bored Panda’s Literal Memes Collection
- Bonus: The New Yorker Cartoons
- Bonus: Hyperbole and a Half
- Bonus: The Oatmeal
- Bonus: Memebase
- Bonus: Explosm
- The Art of the Literal: Final Thoughts
Why Literal Memes Win the Internet
In a world of irony and layers, literal memes strip away the pretense. They take a common phrase or image and interpret it exactly as written, creating humor from the unexpected twist. This directness is refreshing—it’s the comedic equivalent of a cold splash of water. The following sites and tools are the best places to find and create these laugh-out-loud moments, each with its own flavor of straightforward silliness.
1. Bored Panda : The Hub of Viral Literal Memes
What it is: A massive content platform that curates and creates listicles, including countless collections of literal memes.
Category: Entertainment & Viral Content
Why it stands out: Bored Panda is where you saw that pin image with gardening tools and the text “Groundbreaking inventions”—it’s a prime source of such clever visual puns. Their articles are highly shareable, often featuring user-submitted content that goes viral. The site’s clean layout and endless scrolling make it dangerously easy to lose an hour.
Best for: Browsing curated lists of literal memes and sharing them with friends.
2. Literally Memes : Dedicated to the Literal
What it is: A niche site that exclusively collects memes that take idioms and phrases at face value.
Category: Humor
Why it stands out: It’s a pure, unfiltered feed of literal humor. No distractions, just page after page of images that make you groan and laugh simultaneously. The site’s simplicity is its charm.
Best for: A quick dose of literal memes without any fluff.
3. Funny or Die : A Comedy Legacy
What it is: A comedy website founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, known for viral videos and memes.
Category: Comedy & Video
Why it stands out: While not exclusively literal, their content often features deadpan humor that aligns perfectly. The site’s high production values and celebrity cameos give it a unique edge.
Best for: High-quality comedy sketches and occasional literal gems.
4. Cheezburger : The Meme Mothership
What it is: One of the oldest meme sites, home to classics like Lolcats and Failblog.
Category: Meme Aggregator
Why it stands out: With a massive user base, it’s a treasure trove of all meme types, including literal ones. The site’s ability to spot trends early makes it a must-visit for meme enthusiasts.
Best for: Discovering a wide variety of memes, including literal ones.
5. 9GAG : The Global Meme Community
What it is: A popular social media platform for sharing user-generated content, especially memes.
Category: Social Media & Humor
Why it stands out: Its voting system ensures only the funniest content rises to the top. You’ll find a constant stream of literal memes alongside other viral trends, with a strong community that loves a good pun.
Best for: Quickly browsing trending memes and engaging with a global community.
6. Reddit r/literally : The Subreddit for Literalists
What it is: A dedicated subreddit where users post examples of literal interpretations in media and real life.
Category: Online Community
Why it stands out: It’s a goldmine of authentic, user-found literal humor. From signs to conversations, this subreddit captures the essence of taking things too literally in a hilarious way.
Best for: Seeing real-world examples of literal misunderstandings and puns.
7. Imgur : The Image Host with a Twist
What it is: A popular image hosting site that doubles as a social network with a strong meme culture.
Category: Image Sharing
Why it stands out: Imgur’s community is known for its originality and inside jokes. Many literal memes originate here before spreading elsewhere. The comment sections often add an extra layer of humor.
Best for: Finding original memes and participating in a tight-knit community.
8. Memedroid : A Haven for Meme Lovers
What it is: A meme aggregator with a focus on user submissions and ratings.
Category: Meme Aggregator
Why it stands out: It offers a clean interface and a daily dose of fresh memes, including literal ones. The site’s ranking system ensures you see the best content first.
Best for: A no-fuss meme browsing experience.
9. Quickmeme : The Meme Generator Classic
What it is: An older meme generator and hosting site that allows users to create and share memes.
Category: Meme Generator
Why it stands out: It’s simple and effective for creating literal memes. You can pick a template and add your own text in seconds. The site also features a curated selection of popular memes.
Best for: Quick meme creation with a straightforward tool.
10. Someecards : The Art of the Literal Card
What it is: A site known for its sarcastic and literal e-cards.
Category: Humor & Greeting Cards
Why it stands out: Their cards often use literal interpretations of common phrases, delivering a dry wit that’s perfect for sharing on social media. They cover everything from work to relationships.
Best for: Finding a witty, literal card for any occasion.
11. Meme Generator : Create Your Own Literal Memes
What it is: A popular online tool for generating custom memes.
Category: Meme Generator
Why it stands out: It’s free, easy to use, and offers a vast library of templates. You can upload your own images too, making it perfect for creating literal memes from personal photos.
Best for: DIY meme creation with zero learning curve.
12. Know Your Meme : The Encyclopedia of Memes
What it is: A website that documents and explains internet memes, including their origins and variations.
Category: Reference & Education
Why it stands out: For literal memes, this is the place to understand the backstory. You can dive deep into the history of a particular literal meme and see how it evolved.
Best for: Researching meme culture and understanding the context behind literal humor.
13. Giphy : Animated Literal Memes
What it is: A search engine for GIFs, many of which are meme-related.
Category: GIF Search
Why it stands out: Literal memes often work brilliantly as GIFs. Giphy lets you search for any keyword and find a perfect animated response. It’s a go-to for adding humor to conversations.
Best for: Finding animated literal memes to express your feelings.
14. Tenor : The GIF Keyboard for Literal Moments
What it is: Another GIF search engine that integrates with keyboards and social media.
Category: GIF Search
Why it stands out: Tenor’s algorithm is great at understanding context, so you can find literal memes that match your exact mood. It’s widely used on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Best for: Quickly inserting a literal meme into your messages.
15. Meme Center : A Community-Driven Meme Site
What it is: A meme aggregator and community where users can vote and comment.
Category: Meme Aggregator
Why it stands out: It has a dedicated user base that curates content, ensuring a steady stream of quality literal memes. The comment section often adds extra laughs.
Best for: Engaging with a community that appreciates literal humor.
16. Bored Panda’s Literal Memes Collection : The Ultimate Compilation
What it is: A specific collection on Bored Panda dedicated to literal memes.
Category: Entertainment & Viral Content
Why it stands out: This page aggregates the best literal memes from around the web, often with user submissions. It’s a one-stop-shop for a hearty laugh.
Best for: A curated list of the funniest literal memes without any searching.
Bonus: The New Yorker Cartoons : Sophisticated Literal Humor
What it is: The iconic cartoons from The New Yorker magazine, known for their witty captions.
Category: Humor & Editorial
Why it stands out: Many New Yorker cartoons take a literal approach to abstract concepts, offering a more refined take on the genre.
Best for: A sophisticated chuckle.
Bonus: Hyperbole and a Half : The Art of Literal Storytelling
What it is: A blog by Allie Brosh that uses simple drawings to illustrate everyday struggles.
Category: Webcomic & Personal Blog
Why it stands out: Her literal depictions of emotions and situations are both hilarious and touching.
Best for: Deep, relatable humor.
Bonus: The Oatmeal : Absurd Literal Comparisons
What it is: A webcomic site by Matthew Inman known for its humorous takes on life and grammar.
Category: Webcomic
Why it stands out: His comics often take literal interpretations of common metaphors to absurd lengths.
Best for: Laughing at the literal side of everyday idioms.
Bonus: Memebase : A Subsite of Cheezburger
What it is: A sister site to Cheezburger that focuses on a variety of meme categories.
Category: Meme Aggregator
Why it stands out: It’s a great place to find niche literal memes that might not appear on the main site.
Best for: Discovering hidden literal meme treasures.
Bonus: Explosm : Home of Cyanide & Happiness
What it is: The official site for the webcomic Cyanide & Happiness, known for its dark and literal humor.
Category: Webcomic
Why it stands out: Their comics frequently use literal interpretations to deliver surprising punchlines.
Best for: Dark, literal humor that pushes boundaries.
The Art of the Literal: Final Thoughts
These 16 sites and tools prove that sometimes the most direct approach is the funniest. Whether you’re browsing for a quick laugh or creating your own literal masterpiece, there’s something here for every kind of humor enthusiast. The beauty of literal memes is their universality—they don’t require deep internet knowledge, just a willingness to see the world in a slightly more literal light.
What’s your favorite literal meme or website that I missed? Share it in the comments below!