gaslight

C1 Topic:Mind & Cognition

US /ˈɡæslaɪt/ UK /ˈɡæslaɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #57556

Meanings

1

verb
to manipulate someone into doubting their own memory, perceptions, or judgment

He tried to gaslight her by insisting that the conversation had never happened.
2

noun
a gas-burning lamp or the illumination produced by burning coal gas

The narrow street glowed dimly under the yellow gaslight.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to manipulate someone into... manipulate deceivedisorient

2 noun · a gas-burning lamp or the... gas lampgas illumination

Opposites

validate reassure affirm

Word family

Derived forms gaslightergaslighting

Related forms gaslitdeceptionpsychological manipulation

Etymology

The literal noun, recorded in the early nineteenth century, is gas + light and refers to illumination from burning coal gas. The psychological verb comes from Patrick Hamilton's 1938 play Gas Light and its film adaptations, in which a husband alters the gaslights while persuading his wife that her perceptions are unreliable.

Topics

Mind & Cognition

External links

# gaslight

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɡæslaɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɡæslaɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 57556

## Meanings
1. to manipulate someone into doubting their own memory, perceptions, or judgment
2. a gas-burning lamp or the illumination produced by burning coal gas

## Examples
- He tried to gaslight her by insisting that the conversation had never happened.
- The narrow street glowed dimly under the yellow gaslight.

## Synonyms
- manipulate
- deceive
- disorient
- gas lamp

## Antonyms
- validate
- reassure
- affirm

## Derived Forms
- gaslighter
- gaslighting

## Related Forms
- gaslit
- deception
- psychological manipulation

## Etymology
The literal noun, recorded in the early nineteenth century, is gas + light and refers to illumination from burning coal gas. The psychological verb comes from Patrick Hamilton's 1938 play Gas Light and its film adaptations, in which a husband alters the gaslights while persuading his wife that her perceptions are unreliable.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition

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