demagogue

¹dem·a·gogue

noun \ˈde-mə-ˌgäg\

Definition of DEMAGOGUE

1

: a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

2

: a leader championing the cause of the common people in ancient times

— dem·a·gogu·ery \-ˌgä-g(ə-)rē\ noun

— dem·a·gogy \-ˌgä-gē, -ˌgä-jē, -ˌgō-jē\ noun

Variants of DEMAGOGUE

dem·a·gogue also dem·a·gog \ˈde-mə-ˌgäg\

Examples of DEMAGOGUE

1. His opponent called him a bigoted demagogue.
2. <that politician is just a demagogue who preys upon people's fears and prejudices>
3. Like other good Whigs, they had assumed that the people, once free of English influence, would honor and elevate the country's true patriots and natural aristocracy in ways that the English Crown had not. But when in the decades following the Revolution the people seemed to succumb to the deceit and flattery of mushroom demagogues, who were the popular counterparts of courtiers, the Federalists became bewildered and bitter. —Gordon S. Wood, Revolutionary Characters, 2006
4. Before the U.S. could begin to help Haiti rebuild its ravaged democracy last week, it first had to remove a raving demagogue. —Tim Padgett et al., Time, 15 Mar. 2004
5. Here's the background: Tennessee's finances are a mess. The state is facing a shortfall of some $310 million—but legislators remember what happened last year when they considered imposing the first income tax on wages. Goaded by talk-radio demagogues, hundreds of citizens surrounded the Statehouse in a near riot. —Editor & Publisher, 4 Feb. 2002

Origin of DEMAGOGUE

Greek dēmagōgos, from dēmos people (perhaps akin to Greek daiesthai to divide) + agōgos leading, from agein to lead — more at tide, agent

First Known Use: 1648

Related to DEMAGOGUE

Synonyms: agitator (also demagog), exciter, firebrand, fomenter, incendiary, inciter, instigator, kindler, provocateur, rabble-rouser

Related Words: demonstrator, marcher, objector, picketer, protester (or protestor); advocate, apostle, backer, booster, champion, exponent, persuader, promoter, proponent, reformer, reformist, supporter; alarmist, extremist, insurgent, insurrectionist, radical, rebel, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist, subversive, troublemaker; goader, prodder, prompter, provoker; agent provocateur

Near Antonyms: peacemaker, reconciler, uniter

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with DEMAGOGUE

analog, analogue, antilog, apologue, catalog, decalogue, dialogue, epilogue, golliwog, homologue, leopard frog, monologue, mummichog, mystagogue, nouvelle vague, pedagogue, pollywog, semilog, sinologue, synagogue, Taganrog, theologue, travelogue, waterlog