Top 21 Slang For Gaslight – Meaning & Usage

Gaslighting, a manipulative tactic used to make someone doubt their own reality, is unfortunately prevalent in many relationships and situations. Curious about the slang terms associated with this harmful behavior? Look no further as we unveil a list of top slang for gaslight that will shed light on this dark phenomenon. Stay informed and empowered by exploring these key terms with us.

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1. Manipulate

This term refers to the act of controlling or influencing someone in a manipulative and dishonest way, often to gain power or advantage over them.

For instance, a person might say, “He manipulated me into believing I was the one at fault.”
In a discussion about toxic relationships, someone might share, “My ex used to manipulate me by making me feel guilty for everything.”
A character in a TV show might say, “She’s a master at manipulating people to get what she wants.”

2. Mind Games

This phrase describes psychological tactics used to confuse or deceive someone, often with the intention of making them doubt their own thoughts, feelings, or perceptions.

For example, a person might say, “He’s always playing mind games with me, making me question my own sanity.”
In a conversation about manipulative behavior, someone might mention, “Gaslighting often involves mind games to make the victim doubt their own reality.”
A character in a movie might say, “She played mind games with him to make him believe he was losing his mind.”

3. Twist Reality

This term refers to the act of distorting or altering someone’s perception of reality, often through manipulation or deception.

For instance, a person might say, “He twisted my reality by making me believe things that weren’t true.”
In a discussion about gaslighting, someone might explain, “The abuser tries to twist the victim’s reality to make them doubt their own experiences.”
A character in a book might say, “She had a talent for twisting reality and making people question their own memories.”

4. Mental Gymnastics

This phrase describes the intellectual acrobatics used to confuse or deceive someone, often through complex or convoluted arguments or reasoning.

For example, a person might say, “He’s always making me do mental gymnastics to justify his actions.”
In a conversation about gaslighting tactics, someone might mention, “The abuser uses mental gymnastics to make the victim doubt their own perceptions.”
A character in a play might say, “She’s a master at mental gymnastics, always twisting the truth to fit her narrative.”

5. Emotional Abuse

This term refers to the act of harming someone emotionally through manipulation or control, often by undermining their self-esteem, confidence, or sense of reality.

For instance, a person might say, “He subjected me to emotional abuse by constantly belittling me.”
In a discussion about gaslighting, someone might explain, “Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse that can have long-lasting effects on the victim.”
A character in a TV show might say, “She endured years of emotional abuse, constantly being made to feel like she was going crazy.”

6. Coercive Persuasion

Coercive persuasion refers to the use of manipulative tactics to influence someone’s thoughts, beliefs, or actions against their will. It involves tactics such as intimidation, threats, and manipulation of information to control and manipulate a person’s perception of reality.

For example, a cult leader might use coercive persuasion techniques to control and manipulate their followers.
In an abusive relationship, one partner might use coercive persuasion to control and manipulate the other partner.
In a workplace setting, a manager might employ coercive persuasion to pressure employees into working overtime or accepting unfavorable conditions.

7. Emotional Manipulation

Emotional manipulation involves using tactics such as guilt, fear, or false affection to control and manipulate someone’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviors. It aims to exploit another person’s vulnerability for personal gain or to maintain power and control.

For instance, a manipulative partner might use emotional manipulation to make their significant other feel guilty for spending time with friends.
In a friendship, one person might use emotional manipulation to make the other person feel obligated to always be available.
In a family dynamic, a parent might use emotional manipulation to manipulate their child’s feelings of guilt or obligation.

8. Psychological Coercion

Psychological coercion involves the use of psychological tactics to pressure someone into doing something against their will. It often includes tactics such as threats, manipulation, and intimidation to control and manipulate a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

For example, in a hostage situation, the captor might use psychological coercion to manipulate the hostages into complying with their demands.
In a cult, the leader might employ psychological coercion to control the beliefs and actions of their followers.
In a workplace, a supervisor might use psychological coercion to pressure an employee into working overtime or taking on additional responsibilities.

9. Mental Exploitation

Mental exploitation refers to the manipulation and exploitation of someone’s thoughts, beliefs, or cognitive processes for personal gain or control. It involves tactics such as gaslighting, deception, and manipulation of information to distort a person’s perception of reality and undermine their sense of self.

For instance, a gaslighter might engage in mental exploitation by constantly questioning their partner’s memory or perception of events to make them doubt their own sanity.
In a political context, a manipulative leader might engage in mental exploitation by spreading misinformation and distorting facts to manipulate public opinion.
In a professional setting, a coworker might engage in mental exploitation by taking credit for someone else’s work and manipulating others into believing they are more competent.

10. Reality Bending

Reality bending refers to the manipulation of someone’s perception of reality to make them doubt their own experiences, memories, or beliefs. It involves distorting or altering facts, events, or information to create confusion and undermine a person’s sense of reality.

For example, in an abusive relationship, the abuser might engage in reality bending by denying or minimizing their abusive behavior, making the victim question their own experiences.
In a political context, a manipulative leader might engage in reality bending by spreading misinformation and distorting facts to manipulate public opinion.
In a gaslighting situation, the gaslighter might engage in reality bending by manipulating events and information to make the victim doubt their own sanity.

11. Play with emotions

This refers to deliberately manipulating someone’s emotions in order to confuse or control them. It involves using emotional tactics to make someone doubt their own perceptions or feelings.

For example, a manipulative partner might say, “You’re just being too sensitive, I was only joking.”
In a toxic workplace, a supervisor might play with an employee’s emotions to maintain power, such as giving mixed feedback or withholding praise.
A person might describe their experience with emotional manipulation by saying, “They would constantly play with my emotions, making me question my own sanity.”

12. Brainwash

To brainwash someone means to manipulate their thoughts and beliefs to the point where they are completely controlled and have lost their own autonomy. It involves using psychological tactics to change someone’s perception of reality.

For instance, a cult leader might brainwash their followers into believing they are the only source of truth.
In a political context, someone might accuse a leader of brainwashing the public through propaganda and misinformation.
A person might reflect on their past experiences and say, “I was completely brainwashed by that toxic relationship.”

13. Mental abuse

This refers to the use of emotional or mental tactics to control, manipulate, or harm someone. It involves behaviors that undermine a person’s self-worth, sanity, and overall mental well-being.

For example, constantly belittling someone, gaslighting, or isolating them from friends and family are forms of mental abuse.
In a discussion about toxic relationships, someone might say, “Mental abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse.”
A survivor of mental abuse might share their story and say, “I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was a victim of mental abuse for years.”

14. Mind bending

Mind bending refers to the act of manipulating someone’s thoughts or perceptions in order to confuse or control them. It involves distorting reality or creating doubt in someone’s mind.

For instance, a manipulative person might use gaslighting techniques to make someone question their memories or perception of events.
In a psychological thriller, a character might engage in mind bending tactics to deceive others.
A person might describe their experience with mind bending by saying, “They were constantly twisting my thoughts and making me doubt my own reality.”

15. Emotional exploitation

Emotional exploitation occurs when someone manipulates another person’s emotions for their own benefit. It involves using someone’s emotions to control or exploit them.

For example, a manipulative boss might use an employee’s fear of losing their job to make them work longer hours without proper compensation.
In a relationship, emotional exploitation might involve guilt-tripping, making someone feel responsible for the other person’s emotions.
A person might reflect on their past experiences and say, “I was a victim of emotional exploitation, constantly being used for someone else’s gain.”

16. Twisting the truth

This refers to intentionally distorting or manipulating the truth in order to deceive or confuse someone.

For instance, a person might accuse someone of twisting the truth by saying, “He always twists the truth to make himself look better.”
In a heated argument, one might say, “Stop twisting the truth and just admit what you did.”
A victim of gaslighting might realize, “I can’t trust him anymore because he’s always twisting the truth.”

17. Playing mind games

This phrase describes the act of intentionally trying to confuse or manipulate someone’s thinking or emotions for personal gain.

For example, a person might say, “He’s always playing mind games with me, trying to make me doubt myself.”
In a toxic relationship, one might realize, “She’s constantly playing mind games to control me.”
A victim of gaslighting might confide, “I feel like I’m going crazy because he’s always playing mind games with me.”

18. Distorting reality

This term refers to intentionally manipulating or distorting someone’s perception of reality in order to make them doubt their own experiences or beliefs.

For instance, a person might say, “He’s distorting reality by making me question what I saw.”
In a gaslighting situation, one might realize, “She’s distorting reality to make me believe I’m the one at fault.”
A victim of gaslighting might express, “I feel like I’m losing touch with reality because he’s constantly distorting it.”

19. Emotional Rollercoaster

This phrase describes the experience of being on an emotional rollercoaster, where one’s emotions go through extreme ups and downs, often due to the manipulative actions of someone else.

For example, a person might say, “Being in a toxic relationship is like being on an emotional rollercoaster.”
In a gaslighting situation, one might realize, “He’s constantly putting me on an emotional rollercoaster, making me feel happy one moment and devastated the next.”
A victim of gaslighting might express, “I feel exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster he puts me through.”

20. Mental Warfare

This term refers to the act of using psychological tactics to gain power or control over someone else’s thoughts, emotions, or actions.

For instance, a person might say, “She’s engaging in mental warfare by constantly undermining my confidence.”
In a gaslighting situation, one might realize, “He’s waging mental warfare on me, trying to make me doubt my own sanity.”
A victim of gaslighting might confide, “I feel trapped in this mental warfare, constantly second-guessing myself.”

21. Mental Deception

This refers to the act of manipulating someone’s perception of reality or their own sanity. It involves tactics such as denial, misdirection, and manipulation to make the victim question their own thoughts and experiences.

For instance, an abusive partner might engage in mental deception by constantly gaslighting their significant other, making them doubt their own memory and perception of events.
In a discussion about psychological abuse, one might say, “Gaslighting is a form of mental deception that can have long-lasting effects on the victim.”
A therapist might educate their client on mental deception, saying, “Gaslighting is a common tactic used by narcissists to control and manipulate their victims.”