conspiracy theorist
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conspiracy theorist
A person who believes that important events or conditions in the world are the result of a secret conspiracy by powerful groups or individuals. This person develops or spreads corresponding theories.
Als Verschwörungstheoretiker war er davon überzeugt, dass die Mondlandung nie stattgefunden hat.
As a conspiracy theorist, he was convinced that the moon landing never took place.
The word is made up of three parts: 'Verschwörung' (conspiracy), the linking -s, and 'Theoretiker' (theorist). A 'Theoretiker' is someone who develops theories. So it is literally a person who makes theories about conspiracies.
Er gilt als Verschwörungstheoretiker, weil er hinter allem eine geheime Absprache vermutet.
He is considered a conspiracy theorist because he suspects a secret agreement behind everything.
This noun belongs to the N-declension. That means it takes the ending '-en' in all cases except the nominative singular. The genitive singular is an exception and is 'des Verschwörungstheoretikers' (of the conspiracy theorist).
Ich habe mit dem Verschwörungstheoretiker gesprochen.
I spoke with the conspiracy theorist.
The term 'Verschwörungstheoretiker' (conspiracy theorist) is usually used by other people and often has a critical or derogatory meaning. It is rarely a neutral description or a self-description.
In der Diskussion wurde er als Verschwörungstheoretiker bezeichnet.
In the discussion, he was described as a conspiracy theorist.
skeptic
'der Skeptiker' and 'der Verschwörungstheoretiker' both have to do with doubt about official explanations or common opinions. The important difference is the direction of this doubt. A 'Skeptiker' asks critical questions and wants to see good reasons or evidence. This can be objective and reasonable. A 'Verschwörungstheoretiker', on the other hand, often believes that secret powerful groups are behind events and spreads such explanations. Learners may confuse the words because both do not simply believe everything. But a skeptic examines things critically; a conspiracy theorist explains things through secret conspiracies.
Der Verschwörungstheoretiker behauptet, eine geheime Gruppe kontrolliere die Nachrichten.
The conspiracy theorist claims that a secret group controls the news.
Als Skeptiker fragt Paul zuerst nach den Belegen für die neue Studie.
As a skeptic, Paul first asks for the evidence behind the new study.