demagogue

²dem·a·gogue

verb \ˈde-mə-ˌgäg\

dem·a·gogued also dem·a·gogeddem·a·gogu·ing also dem·a·gog·ing

Definition of DEMAGOGUE

intransitive verb

: to behave like a demagogue

transitive verb

: to treat (as an issue) in the manner of a demagogue

Variants of DEMAGOGUE

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

Examples of DEMAGOGUE

1. But Clinton's boldness seemed to work, at least within the Beltway. House Republicans mostly stifled the urge to demagogue against his plan. —Tom Morganthau et al., Newsweek, 11 Dec. 1995

Origin of DEMAGOGUE

(see ¹demagogue)

First Known Use: 1656

Other Government and Politics Terms

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