I’s not surprising that 'Gaslighting' Merriam-Webster's Dictionary most searched word. People usually say it when people try to minimise their emotions about an event or their actions.
Some of the other most searched words were 'sentient,' 'omicron,' and 'queen consort,’. Omicron probably because it’s a variant of the coronavirus and Queen consort because of Camilla's new role following King Charles's ascension.
According to Merriam-Webster, gaslighting is “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one’s advantage.”