mongering

[ mong-ger-ing, muhng- ]

noun

1. the act or practice of promoting, spreading, or trading in a specified thing (usually used in combination):

   Government officials were creating an atmosphere of insecurity with rumors and fear-mongering.

   Almost 80% of the women here are involved in fishing, particularly in processing and fish-mongering.

adjective

1. promoting, spreading, or trading in a specified thing (usually used in combination):

   During World War II the Irish Times was prevented by Irish censors from publishing warmongering propaganda on behalf of the British.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mongering¹

First recorded in 1580–90 mongering fordef 2 and in 1805–10 mongering fordef 1; monger ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun; monger ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

What almost no one knows is that the day before was Election Day, the culmination of a Mississippi governor's campaign marked by violent rhetoric and fear mongering.

From Salon

After advocates tried to block the ban in court, arguing the law put women in danger, attorneys for the state of Georgia accused them of “hyperbolic fear mongering.”

From Salon

“Born in the U.S.A.” did chronicle the dreams of the working class — as they were being dashed by years of Washington war mongering and new policies such as Reagan’s trickle down economics.

From Los Angeles Times

What if the American mainstream news media exercised even one-tenth of the scrutiny, rumor mongering and muckraking, personal and professional invective and score-settling towards Donald Trump that they directed at President Biden?

From Salon

He vowed to deliver “meaningful change”, including giving members a bigger say in how the party was run, as he condemned “pointless grievance mongering” in parliament.

From BBC