gaslighting
n. uncountablen. a type of mental trickery where someone makes you doubt your own memory or sanity. They do this by constantly lying or denying things that really happened.
n. a form of psychological manipulation in which an abuser attempts to sow self-doubt and confusion in their victim's mind. It typically involves distorting reality and forcing the victim to question their own memory, perception, or sanity.
She realized his constant denials were just gaslighting to hide his mistakes.
The manager's gaslighting made the employees feel like they were going crazy, as he constantly denied giving them clear instructions.
In cases of severe emotional abuse, gaslighting serves to isolate the victim from their support network by systematically eroding their confidence in their own perception of reality.
Functions as a verbal noun derived from the verb 'gaslight'.