Word
gaslight
Meanings
to psychologically manipulate someone into doubting their own memory, perception, or judgment
Definition
To gaslight someone is to make them doubt their own memory or judgment through repeated manipulation.
To gaslight someone means to manipulate them over time so they question their own perception, memory, or sanity. It often involves denial, twisting facts, and blaming the other person. The goal is usually to gain control by making the person feel unsure of what is real.
Examples
- My coworker tried to gaslight me by insisting I never sent the email, even after I showed the timestamp.
- She felt he was trying to gaslight her whenever he denied promises he had clearly made.
- They began to gaslight us during the meeting, saying we had agreed to a plan that was never discussed.
- I won’t let anyone gaslight me into thinking my concerns are imaginary.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use "gaslight" to mean any lie or disagreement, but it specifically involves repeated manipulation that makes someone doubt their own perception.
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More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.