The term gaslighting has become much more common in our discourse in recent years. The word has become so widely used that Merriam-Webster ranked it as the word of the year for 2022, with a 1,740% increase in search activity.

Merriam Webster defines gaslight as the “psychological manipulation of a person, usually over an extended period of time, that causes the victim to question the validity of their thoughts, perceptions of reality, or memories”. The term gaslighting is commonly used in political speeches, often to criticize a politician’s or political committee’s reporting. But it is increasingly used in everyday life, especially in the workplace. However, it is often misused.