DARVO

abbreviation or noun

ˈdär-(ˌ)vō 

: manipulative tactics that are commonly used by wrongdoers (such as those accused of physical, sexual, or verbal abuse) upon being confronted or accused by their victims and that consist of denial of wrongdoing, attacking the victim's character or credibility, and attempting to reverse the roles of victim and offender

The tactics reportedly employed … to discredit a female accuser come from a familiar playbook in politics. … There's even a term for it: "deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender," or DARVO.

—Dustin Racioppi

… this article argues that SLAPP suits filed against victims of sexual violence are a form of DARVO, and that these suits contain language weaponized as DARVO tactics by alleged perpetrators.

—Bailey Dick

Every one of the leaders of integrity … I have had the great honour to help, and every one of the hundreds I have met, was subjected to DARVO by those whose criminality or corruption they exposed.

—@nigelmaclennan, on X, formerly Twitter

Word History

Etymology

deny, attack and reverse victim and offender

First Known Use

2014, in the meaning defined above