scaremongered
Peddled baseless fears
Scaremongered is the past tense of scaremonger, meaning to spread frightening rumors or exaggerated warnings, typically to manipulate public opinion: The tabloids scaremongered about the virus for weeks.
The word implies the fear-spreading is deliberate and self-serving rather than genuinely cautionary.
One who overstates threats
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformConvey false details
mislead · exaggerate · distort · fabricate · falsify · hoax · incite · instigate
alarmist
One who overstates threats
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
misinform · mislead · exaggerate · distort · fabricate · falsify · hoax · incite · instigate · hysteria
hysteria
Uncontrollable emotional excess
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
- mass hysteriaShared irrational public fear
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
paranoia · meltdown · stampede · chaos · crisis · panic · fear · dread · anxiety · trepidation
brainwash
Coercively alter beliefs
indoctrinate · subvert · persuade · sway · trickery · undermine · exploit · spin · gaslight · dupe
scaremongeredreassured
Had confidence restored
calmed · soothed · put at ease · comforted · placated
scaremongeredunderstated
Deliberately minimized in expression
educated · enlightened · downplayed · minimized · soft-pedaled