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fearmonger

American  
[feer-mahng-ger, feer-muhng-ger] / ˈfɪərˌmɑŋ gər, ˈfɪərˌmʌŋ gər /

noun

  • fearmongers
    plural
  1. someone who tries to make people fearful or anxious as a means of manipulating them.


verb (used without object)

  1. to try to make people fearful or anxious as a means of manipulating them.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“It is unfair and unjust for the San Francisco District Attorney and the federal government to fearmonger and exploit this young man’s vulnerability simply due to the high-profile status of the people involved,” Ward said.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 16, 2026

Her high screen time percentage is the great equalizer, making her as much of a cartoon super villain as she is a dangerous and out-of-touch fearmonger.

From Salon Apr. 22, 2025

“It’s not just about warning people that conditions are right. Anyone can go online and fearmonger and create scare tactics. I’d never hype up a storm unless it needed to be hyped up.”

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 14, 2025

And we need to inspire rather than fearmonger.

From Washington Post May 3, 2022

“You don’t want to fearmonger, but this is part of planning,” Gronvall said.

From Seattle Times Mar. 21, 2022

But fearmongers are jumping even further ahead and saying that once AGI exists, it could mean curtains for the human species.

From Salon Sep. 16, 2026

In short, the fearmongers need a new scapegoat.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 18, 2026

“That is the root of the fear, and that’s the root of what the fearmongers are provoking.”

From New York Times Jul. 29, 2022

“Here is what I say to these bullies, these fearmongers of our day: ‘We shall not be moved,’” he said.

From Seattle Times Feb. 7, 2022

“The Babadook,” a small Australian film opening this week and also available on iTunes, has already inspired glowing tweets from such professional fearmongers as Stephen King and William Friedkin, director of “The Exorcist.”

From Washington Post Dec. 12, 2014

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