variants
also demagog
as in agitator
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
that politician is just a demagogue who preys upon people's fears and prejudices
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demagogue
As a result, the very outcome the founders most feared, namely election of a demagogue by a gullible cult of true-believers, has been made possible because of the Electoral College, which was originally designed to avoid precisely that outcome.
—
Joseph J. Ellis, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
Yale historian Timothy Snyder’s new book On Freedom explains how institutions of government can protect human rights while his 2017 book On Tyranny explains how demagogues succeed in eroding those pillars of society to be replaced by a tyrant.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
These interviews position Trump less like an anti-democratic demagogue and more as a former fraternity president visiting his grandson’s pledge class, responding to dull, doe-eyed questions with sage-like wisdom.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
The emerging regulatory oversight helped check America's first radio demagogue, Father Coughlin, whose conspiratorial tirades were heard by some 30 million listeners.
—CBS News, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demagogue 
Joseph J. Ellis, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
Yale historian Timothy Snyder’s new book On Freedom explains how institutions of government can protect human rights while his 2017 book On Tyranny explains how demagogues succeed in eroding those pillars of society to be replaced by a tyrant.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
These interviews position Trump less like an anti-democratic demagogue and more as a former fraternity president visiting his grandson’s pledge class, responding to dull, doe-eyed questions with sage-like wisdom.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
The emerging regulatory oversight helped check America's first radio demagogue, Father Coughlin, whose conspiratorial tirades were heard by some 30 million listeners.
—CBS News, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demagogue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demagogue
Noun
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Reviewed, a consumer product review website, shared a post explaining how socks can go missing in top-loading machines: They can get lodged under the agitator (the: pole in the middle of the washer).—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
-
At first, the government tried to ignore the protests, then began to use force and accused the protests of being infiltrated by foreign agitators.—
Chris Massaro,
Fox News,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This year, the Super Bowl booked Compton firebrand Kendrick Lamar, offering a former award-show rabble-rouser an audience with President Trump in attendance.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2025
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There was a moment of silence and a video showing Moore at his firebrand best, but the most moving tribute may have been delivered by Cortese.—
Sal Pizarro,
The Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The 43-year-old former football player has been a longtime, outspoken proponent of LGBTQ rights.—
David K. Li,
NBC News,
20 Feb. 2025
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Indirect-cost rates are controversial: The proportion of NIH funding that has gone to them has grown over time, and proponents of trimming overhead argue that doing so would make research more efficient.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Last week, a humanitarian ceasefire announced by M23 fell apart almost immediately after it was declared, as the rebels swiftly advanced into Nyabibwe.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN,
12 Feb. 2025
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Trump could also run into problems in Congress where the Republicans have only a slim majority in both the Senate and House, meaning a small number of GOP rebels could disrupt his plans.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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My team and the promoters are already working on a new date to communicate to you.—
Tracy Wright,
Fox News,
16 Feb. 2025
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The singer noted the show will be postponed to a later date and said her team is working with the concert promoter on rescheduling.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Whether this signals a future collaboration between Poppy and Carpenter remains to be seen, but for now, the metal provocateur has put her own mark on one of the year’s biggest pop hits.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
7 Feb. 2025
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Just last August, Kanye West’s former chief of staff and right-wing provocateur, Milo Yiannopoulos, alleged that West’s nitrous oxide addiction was costing the rapper more than $50,000 a month.—
Ben Dandridge-Lemco,
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Dave Roberts, manager of the World Series champion Dodgers, meet Andy Wise, your high school baseball counterpart at Corona High.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2025
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At the White House in 2018, Mr. Trump honored NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and Furniture Row Racing.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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How to do it: Sit on a Pilates reformer short box with your feet flat on the reformer (tucked under a strap) hip-width apart.—
Danielle Zickl,
SELF,
7 Feb. 2025
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The reformers driving this movement believed in human progress, scientific management, the use of government power for the public good, and replacing political patronage with the hiring of experts.—
Johnathan K Williams / Made by History,
TIME,
30 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Demagogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demagogue. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
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