scaremonger

/'skeə,mʌɳgə/
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scaremonger

A scaremonger whispers exaggerated warnings to a crowd in the town square.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A person who spreads frightening rumors and stirs up trouble: A scaremonger is someone who deliberately spreads alarming news or predictions, often exaggerating dangers to create fear, anxiety, or panic among people.
Usage
  • The word "scaremonger" is used to describe a person whose actions are typically seen as irresponsible or manipulative. It carries a negative connotation, implying the person is causing unnecessary alarm.
  • It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
Examples
  • Noun:
    • The politician was accused of being a scaremonger for claiming the new policy would lead to economic collapse.
    • Don't listen to him; he's just a scaremonger trying to make everyone afraid.
    • The article criticized the media scaremongers who amplified the health risks beyond the scientific evidence.
Advanced Usage
  • "To scaremonger" (verb, less common): The act of spreading frightening rumors. This verb form is derived from the noun but is used less frequently.
    • Some politicians scaremonger about immigration to gain votes.
  • Conceptual use: The term can be applied metaphorically to institutions or media outlets perceived as promoting fear.
    • The newspaper was often labeled a scaremonger for its sensationalist headlines.
Variants and Related Words
  • Scaremongering (noun): The activity or practice of spreading frightening rumors.
    • The campaign was based on scaremongering rather than facts.
  • Alarmist (noun/adjective): A person who exaggerates a danger, or behavior that causes needless fear. (This is a close synonym but can sometimes be slightly less pejorative than "scaremonger".)
Synonyms
  • Alarmist: A person who tends to raise alarms, especially excessively.
  • Doomsayer: A person who predicts disaster.
  • Fearmonger: A person who spreads fear, often used interchangeably with "scaremonger".
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • To cry wolf: To raise a false alarm. (This idiom describes the action, while a "scaremonger" is the person who habitually does it.)
  • To spread panic/fear: A phrase describing the scaremonger's typical action.
scaremonger

A scaremonger whispers exaggerated warnings to a crowd in the town square.

Noun
  1. a person who spreads frightening rumors and stirs up trouble

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