conspiracists
Secret plot believers
Conspiracists are people who believe in or promote conspiracy theories—explanations that attribute events to secret plots by powerful groups rather than to accepted causes.
The term often carries skeptical or dismissive connotations: Online conspiracists claimed the election was rigged.
A conspiracist may focus on one theory or embrace many, often seeing hidden connections others don't.
Explanations based on evidence
- false-flagAttack disguised as another's
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- psyopsStrategic manipulation of adversaries' thinking
flat-earth · truther · birther · QAnon · chemtrails · staged · agenda · cabal
Sense of unease about motives
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
questioning · misgivings · dubiousness · dissent · rejection · discredit · disillusionment · naysayer
Venues for collective discourse
- subredditsTopical forums within one site
- podcastsEpisodic digital audio programs
- influencersPeople with online sway
- fringeOutermost edge or margin
underground · viral · followers · believers · movement · cult · online · anonymous
Restricted from disclosure
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- hiddenKept out of sight
- suppressedForcibly held down
- silencedRendered unable to speak
clandestine · covert · smokescreen · cover-up · wiretapping · surveillance · eavesdropping · infiltration
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- sheepleSlang for unthinking followers
wake-up · cherry-picking · speculation · conjecture · innuendo · insinuation · narrative · spin
theories
Explanations based on evidence
- false-flagAttack disguised as another's
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
psyops · flat-earth · truther · birther · QAnon · chemtrails · staged · agenda · cabal
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
- skepticalInclined to question claims
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
disbelief · questioning · misgivings · dubiousness · dissent · rejection · discredit · disillusionment · naysayer · contrarian
forums
Venues for collective discourse
- subredditsTopical forums within one site
- podcastsEpisodic digital audio programs
- influencersPeople with online sway
fringe · underground · viral · followers · believers · movement · cult · online · anonymous · doomscrolling
classified
Restricted from disclosure
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- hiddenKept out of sight
- suppressedForcibly held down
silenced · clandestine · covert · smokescreen · cover-up · wiretapping · surveillance · eavesdropping · infiltration · espionage
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
sheeple · wake-up · cherry-picking · speculation · conjecture · innuendo · insinuation · narrative · spin
conspiracistssheeple
Slang for unthinking followers
conformists · conventionalists · normies · traditionalists · true believers
conspiracistsinstitutionalists
Advocates for formal structures
bootlickers · technocrats · bureaucrats · apparatchiks · company men
conspiracistsskeptics
Those who doubt claims
debunkers · rationalists · empiricists · fact-checkers · critical thinkers