Propagandists use a variety of propaganda techniques to influence opinions and to avoid the truth. Often these techniques rely on either omitting significant information or distorting it.

During the period between World Wars I and II, the now-defunct Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA) developed a list of common rhetorical techniques used for propaganda purposes. Their list included the following:

• doublespeak
• fear
• glittering generalities
• name-calling

• ad hominem
• apologise
• astroturf
• bad science
• bait and switch
• big lie
• buzz
• buzzwords
• comic books
• controlling the message
• demonizing the opposition
• disinformation
• divide and conquer
• doublespeak
• echo chamber
• front group
• greenwashing
• guerrilla marketing
• junk science
• misinformation
• photographic manipulation
• policy laundering
• politics of personal destruction
• Political Code Words
• product placement
• providing pictures
• Public Service Announcments
• push poll
• quoting out of context
• release of forged documents
• repetition
• straw man
• using celebrities
• talking points
• vagueness
• video news releases
• viral marketing (word of mouth)