whistle-blower
Exposes internal wrongdoing
A whistle-blower is someone who exposes wrongdoing within an organization, typically an employee reporting illegal or unethical conduct to authorities or the public.
The term evokes a referee's whistle stopping play when rules are broken.
Whistle-blowers often face retaliation despite legal protections: The whistle-blower revealed the company had been dumping toxic waste for years.
Also spelled whistleblower.
Point of origin
- insiderOne with confidential access
- tipsterOne who shares predictions
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- deep throatComplete oral insertion
leaker · witness · snitch · tattletale · rat · squealer · fink · canary
Escape through a breach
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- revealMake something visible
- uncoverReveal what's hidden
- exposeMake known publicly
scandal · testimony · evidence · corruption · malfeasance · investigation · reporting · journalism
Moral soundness and consistency
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
transparency · justice · conscience · duty · honor · truthfulness · responsibility · righteousness
Boldness before danger
- valorCourage in danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
fearlessness · audacity · guts · resolve · determination · backbone · grit · sacrifice
Unknown identity state
- immunityProtected from harm
- safeguardsMeasures preventing harm
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- hotlineDirect emergency phone connection
ombudsman · asylum · refuge · advocacy · legal defense · sanctuary · safe harbor · SEC
Strong negative reaction
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- blacklistingFormally marking for rejection
- ostracismBanishment from a group
victimization · harassment · termination · demotion · lawsuit · silencing · threats · persecution
source
Point of origin
deep throat · leaker · witness · snitch · tattletale · rat · squealer · fink · canary · nark
leak
Escape through a breach
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- revealMake something visible
- uncoverReveal what's hidden
expose · scandal · testimony · evidence · corruption · malfeasance · investigation · reporting · journalism · watchdog
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
accountability · transparency · justice · conscience · duty · honor · truthfulness · responsibility · righteousness · virtue
bravery
Boldness before danger
boldness · fearlessness · audacity · guts · resolve · determination · backbone · grit · sacrifice · conviction
anonymity
Unknown identity state
- immunityProtected from harm
- safeguardsMeasures preventing harm
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
hotline · ombudsman · asylum · refuge · advocacy · legal defense · sanctuary · safe harbor · SEC
backlash
Strong negative reaction
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- blacklistingFormally marking for rejection
ostracism · victimization · harassment · termination · demotion · lawsuit · silencing · threats · persecution · smear campaign
- hidden identitiesanonymous, anonymity, pseudonym, alias, incognito
- Informerssnitch, informant, fink, squealer, narc
- tabloid mediasensationalism, tabloids, yellow journalism, tabloidization, gossip columns
- antitrustantitrust, price fixing, cartel, collusion, antitrust laws
whistle-blowerloyalist
Faithful supporter of authority
company man · team player · yes-man · organization man · party loyalist
whistle-blowerconcealer
Cosmetic for hiding flaws
suppressor · stonewaller · silencer · obstructor · whitewasher
whistle-bloweraccomplice
Crime's willing helper
conspirator · co-conspirator · enabler · collaborator · accessory