as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
the journalist was known as a gadfly for exposing hypocrisy in politics
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Recent Examples of gadfly
Keith Turner, along with political gadfly Margaret Carrasco, filed objections to her candidacy petitions last month.
—
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
Like any gadfly, Kennedy’s willingness to challenge institutions and conventional wisdom has sometimes led him to question things that needed questioning, not least during the Covid era’s riot of hubris and deceit in the public health sector.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Jan. 2025
When Zeus took a liking to princess Io, Hera turned her into a heifer, then sent a gadfly – like a horse fly – to sting her constantly.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2025
One reason the collection merits revisiting is Macdonald’s voice, which is both witty and pugnacious, the voice of a gadfly who delighted in mocking conventional pieties and in challenging the status quo.
—The New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gadfly
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
Like any gadfly, Kennedy’s willingness to challenge institutions and conventional wisdom has sometimes led him to question things that needed questioning, not least during the Covid era’s riot of hubris and deceit in the public health sector.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Jan. 2025
When Zeus took a liking to princess Io, Hera turned her into a heifer, then sent a gadfly – like a horse fly – to sting her constantly.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2025
One reason the collection merits revisiting is Macdonald’s voice, which is both witty and pugnacious, the voice of a gadfly who delighted in mocking conventional pieties and in challenging the status quo.
—The New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gadfly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadfly
Noun
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Several hundred additional complaints by public school districts across the US claim the platforms have created a public nuisance that’s undermining the educational system.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2025
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At first, the un-washable Fisk murals are a nuisance to the new mayor, but there are ways to take advantage of the situation.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Fewer freeze days also encourage blight and pests that attack crops.—
Mark Gongloff,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
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Issues such as interior water or structural damage and pests may indicate the problem is more complicated than a simple replacement, which would be reason enough to walk away.—
Berit Thorkelson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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John replied with annoyance, and the conversation ultimately ended with McCartney abruptly hanging up on him.—
Kim Willis,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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There’s no hint of the speaker’s apparent annoyance in this delightful, whip-smart number.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gadfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadfly. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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