Language guide · 62 entries

Loaded modifier

A label attached to a person that pre-judges them.

Every entry says why the wording is loaded and what a neutral writer would use instead. An entry marked “depends on context” is highlighted only when Mantle’s AI confirms it is loaded where it appears.

abortion extremistsabortion industryabortion millabortion millsabortion radicalsabortionistabortionists
Pejorative names for providers and supporters.
More neutral: abortion providers, abortion-rights supporters, doctor who performs abortions
Used mainly on the right
activist
Charged when attached to a judge, journalist or scientist to imply bias.
More neutral: use the person's actual title
Used on both sidesDepends on context
alarmismclimate alarmistclimate alarmists
Pre-judges the warning as exaggerated.
More neutral: climate scientists, advocates of emissions cuts
Used mainly on the right
alt-right
Umbrella label whose meaning has drifted; specify.
More neutral: name the group and its positions
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
anti-abortion extremistanti-abortion extremistsanti-abortion zealotsanti-choice extremists
Adds a verdict to a position label.
More neutral: anti-abortion activists, abortion opponents
Used mainly on the left
anti-americanun-american
Questions loyalty instead of engaging the position.
More neutral: describe the position
Used on both sidesDepends on context
anti-democraticreactionariesreactionaryregressivetrumpismtrumpist
Verdict in place of description.
More neutral: describe the position
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
anti-science
Broad dismissal; name the finding in dispute.
More neutral: disputes (specific finding)
Used mainly on the left
anti-vaxanti-vaxxeranti-vaxxers
Lumps different positions (mandates, specific vaccines, all vaccines) into one pejorative.
More neutral: vaccine skeptic, opponent of vaccine mandates
Used mainly on the left
antisemiteantisemitesbigotbigotsislamophobeislamophobesracistracists
Sometimes accurate, always a conclusion. Show the words or actions that justify it.
More neutral: quote the statement and describe the act
Used on both sidesDepends on context
authoritariandictatordictatorshipstrongman
Charged when applied to elected officials; describe the conduct. Accurate for unelected rulers.
More neutral: describe the specific actions
Used on both sidesDepends on context
bigotedbigotryhate-filledhateful
Characterizes motive; quote the words.
More neutral: quote the statement
Used mainly on the left
christian nationalismchristofascismchristofascistchristofascists
Fuses a religion with fascism; describe the positions.
More neutral: describe the specific positions on religion and government
Used mainly on the left
christian nationalistchristian nationaliststheocrattheocrats
Applied loosely to religious conservatives; describe the positions.
More neutral: describe the specific positions on religion and government
Used mainly on the left
climate denierclimate deniersdenialismscience denierscience deniers
Echoes Holocaust denial; describe what is disputed.
More neutral: who disputes the scientific consensus on, skeptic of
Used mainly on the left
cognitively impaireddementedsenile
Medical diagnosis by a journalist.
More neutral: describe the specific incident; cite medical statements
Used on both sidesDepends on context
controversial
Everything is controversial to someone; name the dispute.
More neutral: describe who objects and why
Used on both sidesDepends on context
controversy-plaguedscandal-plaguedscandal-ridden
Stacks unspecified scandals into an epithet.
More neutral: who is under investigation for, who was criticized for
Used on both sides
convicted felon
Accurate, but recurring use as a prefix works as an epithet.
More neutral: use when relevant to the story, not as a standing epithet
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
corporate demcorporate democratcorporate democratscorporate dems
Attributes positions to donors rather than describing them.
More neutral: moderate Democrat, Democrat who accepts corporate donations (cite)
Used mainly on the left
corrupt
A conclusion; state the conduct.
More neutral: describe the allegation, charge or conviction
Used on both sidesDepends on context
crooked
Accusation of criminality as an adjective.
More neutral: describe the allegation, charge or conviction
Used on both sidesDepends on context
dangerous
Charged when applied to people or ideas; describe the risk.
More neutral: specify the risk and who says so
Used on both sidesDepends on context
disgraced
Verdict as adjective; say what happened.
More neutral: former, who resigned after, who was convicted of
Used on both sides
dog whistledog-whistle
Attributes hidden intent; the reader deserves the evidence.
More neutral: explain what the phrase means to which audience
Used mainly on the left
election denierelection deniers
Compact label; state what the person actually claimed.
More neutral: who says the 2020 election was stolen, who disputes the results
Used mainly on the left
embattled
Implies a siege; describe the actual pressure.
More neutral: who faces (describe the criticism or investigation)
Used on both sidesDepends on context
extreme
Relative judgement presented as description.
More neutral: describe the position
Used on both sidesDepends on context
extremistextremists
Relative label that tells the reader how to feel without saying what the person believes.
More neutral: describe the specific positions
Used on both sidesDepends on context
failed
Charged when attached to a person or policy as an epithet ('failed governor'); describe the results.
More neutral: describe the outcomes
Used on both sidesDepends on context
far leftfar-left
Applied inconsistently; readers cannot tell where the line is. Specify the positions.
More neutral: progressive, name the group or position
Used mainly on the rightDepends on context
far rightfar-right
Applied inconsistently; readers cannot tell where the line is. Specify the positions.
More neutral: conservative, name the group or position
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
fringe
Dismisses a position by size; give the share.
More neutral: minority, held by (share) of
Used on both sidesDepends on context
godlessheathenheathens
Religious condemnation as description.
More neutral: secular, nonreligious
Used mainly on the rightDepends on context
hard-linehardlinehardlinerhardliners
Relative judgement; applied unevenly.
More neutral: describe the position
Used on both sidesDepends on context
hate grouphate groups
A designation made by advocacy organizations; attribute it.
More neutral: designated a hate group by (name the organization)
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
homophobehomophobicmisogynistmisogynisticsexisttransphobetransphobicxenophobeand 1 more forms
Sometimes accurate, always a conclusion. Show the words or actions that justify it.
More neutral: quote the statement and describe the act
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
infamousnotorious
Judgement of reputation as fact.
More neutral: known for (describe)
Used on both sides
insurrectionistinsurrectionists
A legal characterization applied as a label; describe what the person did.
More neutral: participant in the January 6 attack, rioter
Used mainly on the left
lawless
A conclusion courts reach; describe the dispute.
More neutral: describe the specific action and the legal dispute
Used on both sidesDepends on context
leftistleftists
Used mainly as a pejorative in US coverage.
More neutral: liberal, progressive, Democrat, name the position
Used mainly on the rightDepends on context
leftist agendaliberal agendaradical leftradical leftistradical leftistssocialist agendawoke agendawoke mob
Escalating label used to signal disapproval rather than describe positions.
More neutral: name the group or the position
Used mainly on the right
maga cultmaga republicansradical rightright-wing extremistright-wing extremists
Escalating label used to signal disapproval rather than describe positions.
More neutral: name the group or the position
Used mainly on the left
maga extremistmaga extremistsultra magaultra-maga
Escalating label used to signal disapproval rather than describe positions.
More neutral: Trump-aligned, supporters of
Used mainly on the left
nativismnativistnativists
Historical pejorative applied to a policy position.
More neutral: supporter of immigration restrictions
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
neoconneocons
Often used as a pejorative rather than a description.
More neutral: supporter of interventionist foreign policy
Used on both sidesDepends on context
neoliberalneoliberalismneoliberals
Used mainly as a pejorative; name the policy.
More neutral: describe the policy (deregulation, privatization, free trade)
Used mainly on the left
oligarcholigarchsoligarchyrobber baronrobber barons
Charged when applied to American business figures; describe the influence.
More neutral: billionaire, name the person and their influence
Used mainly on the left
patriots
Charged when used as a name for one political faction.
More neutral: supporters, protesters, participants
Used mainly on the rightDepends on context
radicalradicals
Same as extremist: a verdict in place of a description.
More neutral: describe the specific positions
Used on both sidesDepends on context
right-wingerright-wingerswingnutwingnuts
Pejorative shorthand.
More neutral: conservative, Republican, name the position
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
rinorinos
Insider insult (Republican In Name Only) that questions loyalty instead of describing a disagreement.
More neutral: Republican who opposes, moderate Republican
Used mainly on the right
traitortraitorstreasontreasonous
Treason is a specific crime; the label is an accusation.
More neutral: describe the act
Used on both sidesDepends on context
twice impeachedtwice-impeached
Accurate, but recurring use as a prefix works as an epithet.
More neutral: use when relevant to the story, not as a standing epithet
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
tyrannicaltyrannytyrant
Historical extreme applied to policy disagreement.
More neutral: describe the policy
Used on both sidesDepends on context
unelected
Judges, officials and advisers are unelected by design; the modifier delegitimizes.
More neutral: appointed, (omit)
Used mainly on the rightDepends on context
unfit
A verdict; describe the concern.
More neutral: describe the concern and who raises it
Used on both sidesDepends on context
virtue signalingvirtue-signaling
Attributes insincere motives that the writer cannot know.
More neutral: said, announced support for
Used mainly on the right
vulture capitalistvulture capitalistsvulture fundvulture fundswall street greed
Predator metaphor for an investor; name the firm and the transaction.
More neutral: private equity firm, hedge fund, name the firm
Used mainly on the left
war criminalwar criminals
A legal finding; attribute it unless a court has ruled.
More neutral: describe the alleged act and any charge or ruling
Used on both sides
warmongerwarmongeringwarmongers
Attributes a desire for war rather than describing a position.
More neutral: supporter of military action in, advocate of
Used on both sidesDepends on context
white nationalistwhite nationalistswhite supremacistwhite supremacists
Accurate for self-identified groups; charged when applied by inference. Show the basis.
More neutral: describe the statements or affiliations that justify the label
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context