gaslighting

American  

[gas-lahy-ting] / ˈgæsˌlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. the use of psychological manipulation to undermine a person’s faith in their own judgment, memory, or sanity.

   Gaslighting is not restricted to romantic relationships, but also occurs in friendships and among family members.

2. the practice of deceiving people through the repetition of a constructed false narrative.

   It’s not uncommon for victims of gaslighting to argue passionately in favor of the story they’ve been fed.

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Etymology

Origin of gaslighting

First recorded in 1815–25, for a literal sense; 1960–65, for the current senses; gaslight ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The child hit out at Rhodes for "gaslighting me, parading around as a survivor, while destroying me and my mother".

From BBC

West Midlands Police was, as Nick Timothy MP - who has led some of the criticism of the force - put it, "gaslighting them".

From BBC

He said the rally was intended to highlight both the “gaslighting” and “solutions that can help our neighbors come home.”

From Los Angeles Times

There is simply too much gaslighting going on to spend adequate time debunking everything.

From Salon

Britney Spears will not stand for ex-husband Kevin Federline’s scathing claims about how she raised their two sons, writing on social media that the allegations in his upcoming book are part of his “constant gaslighting.”

From Los Angeles Times