gaslighting
nounEtymology For the figurative sense, from gaslight + -ing; see explanation at gaslight § Etymology 2.
1
Usually Illumination by burning gas.
- This is a general article summarizing progress in incandescent gaslighting since the days of the flat flame burner.December, 1909, J. S. Dow, “Pressgasbeleuchtung, by R. Bremer”, in The Illuminating Engineer, volume IV, number 10, page 520:
2
Figuratively, Usually Manipulation intended to trick the victim(s) into doubting their perception of reality.
- 2013, Victoria Summit, Stop Dancing in the Gaslight: Recognizing Domestic Abuse is Half the Battle, Scarlett Publishing, page 14, In the Disney movie, Oz, the Great and Powerful, Oz's gaslighting schemes showcase his extreme case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
- “Defendants’ representations to this Court that Mr. Musk is not running DOGE are tantamount to legal gaslighting,” CREW said.2025 March 30, Tierney Sneed, “Is DOGE actually an agency? The answer could have major ramifications”, in CNN:
1 more example
- To people around them, the Amodei siblings would describe [Sam] Altman’s tactics as “gaslighting” and “psychological abuse.”2025, Karen Hao, Empire of AI, New York City: Penguin Press, →ISBN:
- Derived terms
- gaslight, gaslighter, gaslighty