n. Media, special-interest groups, and businesses that exploit common fears and anxieties for profit, power, or other gains.
1996
Now, some — not all — basement waterproofing companies are bonafide panic merchants who are marketing fear along with fix. Beware of them.
1988 (earliest)
The untrue stories of a disaster that briefly circulated during the hour and a half that ALC's screens were down showed just how jittery the market has become about the threat of more job losses.