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spinmeister

spinmeister

2 9.9
A person who says things to make news or actions seem better to influence people
  • noun
  • /ˈspɪnˌmaɪstər/
  • Slang
translation icon : spin doctor
  • I, like Jeff, would cheer on that prosecution, but the media, with the help of the Republican spinmeisters, would happily spin the lifelong conservative hawk Armitage as somehow being a darling of the Democrats.
  • spinmeister Clinton
  • former spinmeister
  • spinmeister at the White House

Examples

  • It is an ideological mantra that health insurance company PR spinmeisters relentlessly front-load to the public via the stenographic mainstream media.

    Blog text (21)
  • He is a spinmeister, and his job is to spin for his boss in an election campaign.

    Blog text (34)
  • Then his spinmeisters tried to explain that he was referring to "household" rather than "personal" income.

    Blog text (13)
  • We didn't have to wait for the spinmeisters to push on it; it was right there.

    Blog text (10)
  • I think Ann has finally had it with both Team O and its MSM spinmeisters.

    Blog text (21)
  • For a while, the spinmeisters tried putting out the story that Reagan's eyesight was too poor for him to serve.

    Blog text (31)
  • To this day, faith-based social-service entities, including schools, hospitals, and some of the very charities providing essential services in Sandy's wake, face an unprovoked attack on their liberty, no matter what the White House spinmeisters say.

    Blog text (24)
  • But the mere fact that spinmeisters like Erickson and O'Reilly feel the need to contend with atheism at all suggests a higher profile for the non-theist movement as a whole.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The skilled spinmeister convinced the public that the policy changes were beneficial for the community.

  • As a top spinmeister in the campaign, she crafted messages that swayed voters' opinions.

Synonyms

publicist
vsspinmeister
69 5.0

A person who gets news and media attention for someone or something

aims to shape opinion by giving events a favorable interpretation
propagandist
vsspinmeister
  • Literature
15 7.8

A person who gives one-sided or false information to help a political group

prefers to cast events favorably rather than broadly spreading biased messages
spin doctor
vsspinmeister
  • Literature
7 7.1

A person who makes news or events look better to influence people's opinions

is the alternative informal phrase for the same political role
public relations person
vsspinmeister
2 3.6

Someone who manages how an organization looks to the public and talks to the media

focuses on quickly framing events favorably to influence public opinion
persuader
vsspinmeister
2 3.7

A person who convinces others to do or believe something

works by framing events favorably to sway public opinion specifically

Antonyms

1 3.8

A person who never lies, even when it is hard

How Persuasive

propagandist
  • Literature
15 7.8
spinmeister
  • Slang
2 9.9
commentator
  • Literature
217 3.5
spokesperson
123 3.5

Surface Forms

spinmeister singular
spinmeisters plural

Morphology

spinmeister = spin + meister (semi-transparent) = spin + meister

The parts 'spin' and 'meister' are recognisable, but '-meister' is a borrowed, informal element and the compound is slangy and culturally specific, so full meaning may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Spinmeister combines the English word spin, meaning 'to turn' or 'twist', with the German word meister, meaning 'master'. So a spinmeister is seen as a 'master' at turning or twisting a story to make events sound better.