What You Should Actually Do If You're Accused of Gaslighting Gaslighting is a negative term that can follow you forever. You need to fight back before the label sticks.
By Ryan Droste •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The term gaslighting has become much more common in our discourse over the past several years. The word has become so commonly used that Merriam-Webster ranked it as the word of the year for 2022, with search activity increasing at a rate of 1,740%.
Merriam-Webster defines gaslighting as the "psychological manipulation of a person usually over an extended period of time that causes the victim to question the validity of their thoughts, perception of reality or memories." The term gaslighting is commonly used in political speech, often to criticize a politician or political committee's messaging. But it's increasingly used in daily life, especially in the workplace. However, it's often misused.
Memorial Day Sale - Save 20%! Unlock this premium article & so much more with Entrepreneur+
Join the internet’s leading entrepreneur community with our Memorial Day sale! With your subscription, you'll get:
- Digestible insight on how to be a better entrepreneur and leader
- Lessons for starting and growing a business from our expert network of CEOs and founders
- Meaningful content to help you make sharper decisions
- Business and life hacks to help you stay ahead of the curve
Use code SAVE20 at checkout.
