fearmonger

American  

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

noun

plural

fearmongers

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

• fearmongering noun

Example Sentences

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

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

“To fearmonger and be like, ‘1,800 people could die and the city will be on fire’ — two things that are also very likely — is not going to motivate you.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2019

From the beginning, Espinoza has claimed that her agenda is strictly to remember and honor victims and their families; she smarts from being portrayed as some nativist fearmonger.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 30, 2017