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Glite Dictionary
muckraker tactic

muckraker tactic

8.3
A method journalists use to show wrong or illegal actions by people in power
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌkˌreɪkər ˈtæktɪk/
  • Literature
translation icon : táctica de destape
  • Thanks to her persistent muckraker tactics, several corrupt officials were brought to justice.

Examples

  • The journalist's muckraker tactics led to a major government scandal being revealed.

  • Some critics argue that muckraker tactics can sometimes cross ethical boundaries in pursuit of the truth.

  • A muckraker tactic reveals the truth.

  • The muckraker tactics were effective.

  • Thanks to her persistent muckraker tactics, several corrupt officials were brought to justice.

  • The journalist's muckraker tactics led to a major government scandal being revealed.

  • Some critics argue that muckraker tactics can sometimes cross ethical boundaries in pursuit of the truth.

Synonyms

whistleblowing
vsmuckraker tactic
7 5.6

Reporting illegal or wrong actions at work to people outside the company

is a deliberate method to expose wrongdoing beyond just a formal report
whisper campaign
vsmuckraker tactic
  • Literature
2 7.5

A secret effort to spread bad rumors about someone to make people think less of them

focuses on exposing actual corruption openly rather than spreading hidden rumors

Antonyms

cover-up
  • Literature
137 5.5

An attempt to hide a crime or scandal from the public

concealment
8 5.0

Keeping something hidden or secret

How Public

to name and shame
  • Literature
1 6.3
muckraker tactic
  • Literature
8.3
inquiry
  • Formal
322 4.4
investigation
∞ 2.9

Surface Forms

muckraker tactic singular
muckraker tactics plural

Morphology

muckraker + tactic

The meaning is directly compositional: 'muckraker' (someone who exposes wrongdoing) combined with 'tactic' (a planned method) yields a strategy used to reveal corruption. This noun+noun compound follows a common, predictable pattern cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Muckraker tactic comes from the picture of someone using a rake to pull up muck (dirty, hidden stuff) so you can see it. So a muckraker tactic means a method used to 'rake up' the dirt and reveal hidden corruption or wrong acts.