chilling effect
Fear-induced self-censorship
A chilling effect is the discouragement of legitimate activity through fear of consequences.
The term comes from law, where overly broad regulations or threats of litigation deter people from exercising rights they legally possess: The vague harassment policy had a chilling effect on classroom discussion.
The phrase has spread beyond legal contexts to describe any atmosphere of intimidation that suppresses speech or behavior.
Restraining one's own expression
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- content moderationReviewing online submissions
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- gag orderCourt-imposed speech restriction
book banning · media control · information control · gatekeeping · forbidden · taboo · restrictive · propaganda
Emotional response to threat
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
pressure · menace · cowing · daunting · repression · tyranny · overbearing · silencing
Constitutional free expression guarantee
- prior restraintPrepublication suppression of speech
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
civil liberties · free speech · constitutional law · whistleblower · due process · judicial review · litigation · precedent
Loss of confidence
- disincentiveFactor discouraging action
- dissuasionConvincing someone not to
- restraintControl over impulses
- inhibitionMental check on behavior
caution · deterrent · impediment · barrier · hindrance · constraint · dampening · hesitation
Suppress or restrain
- suppressForcibly put an end to
- muteWithout voice or sound
- quellForcibly end unrest
- hushAbsence of sound
voiceless · unspoken · reticence · inhibition · speechless · taciturnity · withholding · non-participation
self-censorship
Restraining one's own expression
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- content moderationReviewing online submissions
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
gag order · book banning · media control · information control · gatekeeping · forbidden · taboo · restrictive · propaganda · blacklisting
fear
Emotional response to threat
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
harassment · pressure · menace · cowing · daunting · repression · tyranny · overbearing · silencing · retaliation
First Amendment
Constitutional free expression guarantee
- prior restraintPrepublication suppression of speech
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
injunction · civil liberties · free speech · constitutional law · whistleblower · due process · judicial review · litigation · precedent · jurisprudence
discouragement
Loss of confidence
- disincentiveFactor discouraging action
- dissuasionConvincing someone not to
- restraintControl over impulses
inhibition · caution · deterrent · impediment · barrier · hindrance · constraint · dampening · hesitation · reluctance
stifle
Suppress or restrain
hush · voiceless · unspoken · reticence · inhibition · speechless · taciturnity · withholding · non-participation · withdrawal
- effectsconsequence, result, special effects, outcome, sound effects
- press freedomfreedom of the press, press freedom, media freedom, press rights, editorial freedom
- censorshipbanned books, censored, banned, book banning, book bans
- free speechfree expression, freedom of speech, protected speech, speech rights, speech protection
- self-censorshipfiltering, holding back, self-policing, restraint, editing
chilling effectwarming effect
green light · invitation · incentive · spur · impetus
chilling effectsafe harbor
Protected place for vessels
free speech zone · open forum · marketplace of ideas · sanctuary · freedom of expression
chilling effectopen forum
Unrestricted public discussion
marketplace of ideas · expressive freedom · journalistic freedom · whistleblower protection
effect, chill, chilled, chills, chilling, chilliness, chiller, chillingly, chillers