conspiracy theorists
Secret plot believers
Conspiracy theorists are people who believe that significant events or situations are secretly orchestrated by powerful groups working behind the scenes, often despite a lack of credible evidence.
The term typically carries a dismissive tone, suggesting the person embraces implausible explanations over mainstream accounts.
The conspiracy theorists insisted the moon landing was filmed in a studio.
Someone may self-identify as a conspiracy theorist, but more often it's applied by others to delegitimize unconventional views.
Systematic fact-finding effort
- connecting dotsJoining separate marks sequentially
- rabbit holeHare's underground dwelling
- red pillHarsh awakening metaphor
- wokePast tense of rising from sleep
decoding · alternative media · forums · echo chamber · confirmation bias · cherry-picking · podcast · documentary
Websites for group discussions
- 4chanAnonymous posting site
- telegramWired written dispatch
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- movementChange in position
followers · influencers · grifters · cult · fringe · extremist · radicalization · echo chamber
Skeptics of official explanations
- flat earthNon-spherical planetary model
- chemtrailsAlleged aerial chemical dispersal
- deep stateCovert governmental power structure
- new world orderTransformed global power structure
reptilians · moon landing hoax · false flag · aliens · crop circles · antivax · crisis actors · birther
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- covertIntentionally concealed
- hiddenKept out of sight
- shadow governmentConcealed parallel authority structure
black ops · suppressed · censorship · whistleblower · leaked · redacted · secret society · cabal
Sense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
doubt · questioning · paranoia · wariness · discredit · rejection · contrarian · anti-establishment
research
Systematic fact-finding effort
- connecting dotsJoining separate marks sequentially
- rabbit holeHare's underground dwelling
- red pillHarsh awakening metaphor
woke · decoding · alternative media · forums · echo chamber · confirmation bias · cherry-picking · podcast · documentary · social media
online forums
Websites for group discussions
- 4chanAnonymous posting site
- telegramWired written dispatch
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
movement · followers · influencers · grifters · cult · fringe · extremist · radicalization · echo chamber · true believers
truthers
Skeptics of official explanations
- flat earthNon-spherical planetary model
- chemtrailsAlleged aerial chemical dispersal
- deep stateCovert governmental power structure
new world order · reptilians · moon landing hoax · false flag · aliens · crop circles · antivax · crisis actors · birther · cover-up
cover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- covertIntentionally concealed
- hiddenKept out of sight
shadow government · black ops · suppressed · censorship · whistleblower · leaked · redacted · secret society · cabal · elite
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
disbelief · doubt · questioning · paranoia · wariness · discredit · rejection · contrarian · anti-establishment · anti-government
- comedy targetspoliticians, lawyers, in-laws, teenagers, bosses
- fringe believerstruthers, flat earthers, QAnon, moon landing deniers, election deniers
- COVID skepticsanti-maskers
- Fringe Groupsmilitias, extremists, radicals, separatists, dissidents
conspiracy theoriststrue believers
Unwavering adherents to doctrine
conspiracy theoristsempiricists
Philosophers favoring sensory knowledge
rationalists · fact-checkers · critical thinkers · skeptics · debunkers
conspiracy theoristsmainstream media
Dominant news establishment
insiders · gatekeepers · experts · authorities · centrists
theory, conspiracy, theories, conspire, theoretical, theorize, theorist, conspirator, conspiring