noun

gaslighting

GAS-lie-ting

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Gaslighting (noun) means manipulating someone into doubting their own memory, perception or sanity, usually by repeatedly denying things they know to be true. Example: “She realised the constant "that never happened" was gaslighting.”

noun

Manipulating someone into doubting their own memory, perception or sanity, usually by repeatedly denying things they know to be true.

"She realised the constant "that never happened" was gaslighting."

"Gaslighting works by making the victim distrust their own judgement."

verb

Present participle of gaslight: to manipulate someone into questioning their own reality.

"He accused his manager of gaslighting him about the deadline."

How to use gaslighting

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMaking someone doubt their own memory or sanity on purpose.

When to use it

Now general English, though it began as a clinical and then a political term. Overuse for ordinary disagreement is a common complaint.

Memory tip

It is not just lying — it is lying to make you distrust yourself.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

manipulation → lying →

Common pairings

gaslighting someone accused of gaslighting classic gaslighting

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “gaslighting” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She realised the constant "that never happened" was _____.

Etymology

From the 1938 stage play "Gas Light" by Patrick Hamilton, and its film adaptations, in which a husband dims the gas lamps and insists his wife is imagining it. The verb "to gaslight" followed, and the noun came into wide general use in the 2010s.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

manipulation psychological abuse mind games

Related words

use handling massage exploitation manipulation guilt trip

Rhymes for gaslighting

sighting lighting fighting bullfighting moonlighting highlighting

See all rhymes for gaslighting →

Frequently asked questions

What is gaslighting in simple terms?

It is when someone repeatedly makes you doubt your own memory or perception — insisting things you clearly remember did not happen, or that you are overreacting — until you stop trusting your own judgement.

Where does the word gaslighting come from?

From "Gas Light," a 1938 play by Patrick Hamilton later made into films. A husband secretly dims the gas lamps in the house and tells his wife she is imagining the change, part of a wider campaign to convince her she is losing her mind.

Is gaslighting always deliberate?

The term normally implies intent — a sustained attempt to distort someone else's sense of reality. People do sometimes dismiss others' experiences carelessly rather than calculatedly, and using "gaslighting" for any disagreement waters the word down.

What is the meaning of gaslighting?

"gaslighting" (noun) means manipulating someone into doubting their own memory, perception or sanity, usually by repeatedly denying things they know to be true.

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