fearmonger meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

fearmonger

noun

UK /ˈfɪəmʌŋɡə/ · US /ˈfɪəɹˌmʌŋɡəɹ/

Etymology From fear + monger (“dealer in a specific commodity; (by extension) person promoting something undesirable”).

Someone who spreads fear.

I think the Tea Partiers, despite their contradictions, are not all wrong about Big Government. But I worry that, in time, a clever fearmonger could manipulate popular opinion into an electoral mandate.2010 December 4, Evan Thomas, “The Deepest Dangers Facing the United States [print version: Why It’s Time to Worry]”, in Newsweek, New York, N.Y.: Newsweek, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 Jul 2024:

Synonyms: alarmist, fearmonger, fearmongerer, panicmonger, scaremonger
Antonyms: coward, hero, optimist
Related terms: fearmongering, daunter, discourager, hatemonger, intimidator, overwhelmer, pessimist, terrorist, fear, frighten
Hypernyms: person, troublemaker

verb

Etymology Back-formation from fearmongering.

To spread fear.