PoliticsAugust 28, 2026

fearmonger

FEER-mong-ger

Definition

To engage in the act of deliberately spreading frightening information or rumors to manipulate public opinion or incite panic.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'fere' (fear) and 'monger,' which comes from the Old English 'mangere' meaning a trader or merchant. It literally means a person who trades in or peddles fear.

In the news

The article uses this term to describe how the 'gender ideology' myth is employed as a tool to stir up irrational fear regarding reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues. It highlights how fearmongering is used to justify hostile political agendas.

HHS Issues False Report Linking Support For Gender Affirming Care With “Authoritarianism” And Violence

Read the full article ↗

Erin In The Morning | Substack

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.