conspiracy theory
Shadowy cabal explanation
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for events that attributes them to a secret plot by powerful actors, often despite lack of evidence or in contradiction to official accounts.
The term typically carries negative connotations, implying that the belief is unfounded, paranoid, or irrational.
She dismissed his claims about the election as just another conspiracy theory.
Someone who embraces such beliefs may be called a conspiracy theorist, though believers themselves often reject these labels as dismissive.
Absence of confidence
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- paranoidUnreasonably suspicious of others
- witch-huntPersecution of supposed subversives
scapegoating · alarmism · wariness · fear-mongering · they · watchers · tracking · monitoring
False data spread unintentionally
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
distortion · spin · agenda · narrative · psyop · gaslighting · astroturfing · troll
Scheming political faction
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- IlluminatiAlleged secret elite
- FreemasonsOldest secular fraternal order
- eliteSuperior select group
insiders · operatives · handlers · false-flag · planted · orchestrated · staged
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- whitewashConceal or coat pale
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
stonewalling · withholding · silencing · smokescreen · obstruction · classified · whistleblower
Expose as false
- fact-checkingConfirming accuracy of claims
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- verificationProving something accurate
plausibility · inquiry · disproof · Snopes · mythbusting · rational · analytical · falsifiable
Unconfirmed circulating story
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- suppositionBelief without proof
theorizing · assumption · hunch · inference · what-if · corkboard · coincidence · anomaly
distrust
Absence of confidence
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- paranoidUnreasonably suspicious of others
witch-hunt · scapegoating · alarmism · wariness · fear-mongering · they · watchers · tracking · monitoring · brainwashing
misinformation
False data spread unintentionally
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
manipulation · distortion · spin · agenda · narrative · psyop · gaslighting · astroturfing · troll · viral
cabal
Scheming political faction
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- IlluminatiAlleged secret elite
- FreemasonsOldest secular fraternal order
elite · insiders · operatives · handlers · false-flag · planted · orchestrated · staged
cover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
- whitewashConceal or coat pale
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
censorship · stonewalling · withholding · silencing · smokescreen · obstruction · classified · whistleblower
debunk
Expose as false
- fact-checkingConfirming accuracy of claims
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
verification · plausibility · inquiry · disproof · Snopes · mythbusting · rational · analytical · falsifiable
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
supposition · theorizing · assumption · hunch · inference · what-if · corkboard · coincidence · anomaly · inconsistency
- misinformationmisinformation, disinformation, fake news, falsehoods, hoaxes
- propagandapropaganda, brainwashing, disinformation, misinformation, indoctrination
- theoryhypothesis, theorem, axiom, postulate, conjecture
- irrationalityirrationality, unreason, illogic, madness, insanity
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- disinformationdisinformation, misinformation, misinformation campaigns, fake news, propaganda
conspiracy theoryscientific consensus
Prevailing expert judgment
verified account · conventional wisdom · accepted truth · common knowledge · scholarly consensus
conspiracy theorycoincidence
Unplanned matching of events
accident · random chance · chaos · unintended consequence · happenstance
conspiracy theoryofficial narrative
theory, conspiracy, theories, conspire, theoretical, theorize, theorist, conspirator, conspiring