mindscrew
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Something that destabilizes, confuses, or manipulates a person's mind.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
It's in television that Abrams, arguably more than Spielberg, has nudged the medium forward, with "Felicity," then "Alias" and finally the mindscrew of "Lost."
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “mindscrew” mean?
Something that destabilizes, confuses, or manipulates a person's mind.
Is “mindscrew” formal or informal?
mindscrew is generally slang.