hoaxers
Those who deceive
Hoaxers are people who create or spread hoaxes—deliberate deceptions designed to trick others into believing something false.
The term often appears in discussions of conspiracy theories and misinformation: The hoaxers claimed the moon landing was faked.
Unlike pranksters, hoaxers typically aim to deceive rather than amuse.
Pretenders to special knowledge
- impostorsThose falsely claiming identity
- swindlersDeceivers who steal through trickery
- con artistsPeople who cheat others
- fabricatorsCreators of falsehoods
liars · forgers · scammers · cheats · pretenders · fakers · fraudsters · counterfeiters
People who narrate tales
- fabulistsComposers of moral tales
- conspiracy theoristsBelievers in hidden plots
- propagandistsSpreaders of biased messaging
- sensationalistsThose who overdramatize for impact
Clowns or wild cards
- jestersProfessional court fools
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
- scampsPlayful troublemakers
rascals · imps · wags · buffoons · clowns · mischief-makers · practical jokers · troublemakers
charlatans
Pretenders to special knowledge
- impostorsThose falsely claiming identity
- swindlersDeceivers who steal through trickery
- con artistsPeople who cheat others
fabricators · liars · forgers · scammers · cheats · pretenders · fakers · fraudsters · counterfeiters · mountebanks
storytellers
People who narrate tales
- fabulistsComposers of moral tales
- conspiracy theoristsBelievers in hidden plots
- propagandistsSpreaders of biased messaging
jokers
Clowns or wild cards
- jestersProfessional court fools
- trickstersThose who mislead deliberately
- roguesDishonest or deviant individuals
scamps · rascals · imps · wags · buffoons · clowns · mischief-makers · practical jokers · troublemakers · provocateurs
P.T. Barnum
Legendary circus promoter
- moon landing deniersThose rejecting lunar missions
hoaxerstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
fact-checkers · debunkers · journalists · truth-seekers · whistleblowers
hoaxersdebunkers
Those who discredit falsities
fact-checkers · investigators · verifiers · authenticators · skeptics
hoaxersauthenticators
Tools confirming identity
verifiers · experts · scholars · straight shooters · honest brokers