Merriam-dictionary Webster’s named “gaslighting” its word of the year in late November 2022. According to the organization’s official release, “in this age of deception — of “fake news,” conspiracy theories, Twitter trolls, and deepfakes – gaslighting has arisen as a phrase for our time.”
‘Gaslighting’ is Merriam-Word Webster’s of the Year for 2022.
The dictionary defines it as “psychological manipulation of a person, usually over a long period of time, that causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories, and typically leads to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, uncertainty of one’s emotional or mental stability, and a dependency on the perpetrator.”
The phrase derives from a type of psychological abuse that is commonly used in relationships: “The term is derived from the title of a 1938 play and the film based on that play, the plot of which involves a man attempting to convince his wife that she is insane. The house’s gas lights dim as a result of his unexplained actions in the attic, but he swears to his wife that the lights are not dimming and that she can’t trust her own observations.”
‘Gaslighting’ is Merriam-Word Webster’s of the Year for 2022.
However, its use has developed, and politicians and newsmakers frequently utilise it to mislead the public. Merriam-Webster defined it as “the act or practise of excessively deceiving someone, especially for personal gain.” The phrase is “at home” among other concepts associated with deceit and manipulation, such as “fake news, deepfake, and artificial intelligence,” according to the dictionary.