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
Where is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Zohran Mamdani and the rest of the radical fringe left who take every opportunity to demagogue and slander Israel, and yet not one word about Iran?
—
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
In turn, the erosion of trust has weakened the social contract that sustains representative government, leaving democracies more vulnerable to populist demagogues, institutional paralysis, and the gradual normalization of authoritarian alternatives.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Trump can be seen as a bastion of free trade for the Silicon Valley capitalists, a beacon of white Christian America to the heartland Evangelicals, and a fascist demagogue to the blood and soil nationalists.
—Ryan Broderick, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Studies show that as a result of these cycles, Americans on the left and right have developed an exaggerated sense of the other side’s hostility, exactly as some political demagogues intend.
—Adam G. Klein, The Conversation, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demagogue
Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
In turn, the erosion of trust has weakened the social contract that sustains representative government, leaving democracies more vulnerable to populist demagogues, institutional paralysis, and the gradual normalization of authoritarian alternatives.
—Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Trump can be seen as a bastion of free trade for the Silicon Valley capitalists, a beacon of white Christian America to the heartland Evangelicals, and a fascist demagogue to the blood and soil nationalists.
—Ryan Broderick, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Studies show that as a result of these cycles, Americans on the left and right have developed an exaggerated sense of the other side’s hostility, exactly as some political demagogues intend.
—Adam G. Klein, The Conversation, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demagogue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demagogue
Noun
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On March 1st, the right-wing online agitator Ian Miles Cheong posted a video from a Dubai club where uniformed employees danced with sparklers and liquor bottles.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Christian women wishing to reunite their families without calling for Hitler’s demise, or the release of all Jews, were harder for the regime to portray as political enemies or criminal agitators.—
Danielle Wirsansky,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Menken, a firebrand actor and poet, is perhaps best remembered for her performance as the traditionally male lead in the Byronic hippodrama Mazeppa.—
Betsy Golden Kellem,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Mar. 2026
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The race pits a centrist sitting governor, Janet Mills, against a progressive firebrand, Graham Platner, an oyster farmer, military veteran and former private military contractor who has built momentum in recent months.—
Fin Daniel Gómez,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The mineral-rich eastern Congo has been battered by decades of unrest as government forces fight more than 100 armed groups, the most potent the M23 rebel group backed by Rwanda.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
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Ai, a Chinese Vietnamese American filmmaker and writer, focuses on rebels and outsiders of mainstream culture.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The trade association represents more than 1,400 independent venues, festivals, promoters and presenters across the country.—
Gabriella Fine,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Kent, a promoter of far-right conspiracy theories whom the Senate narrowly confirmed for the director role last July, accused the president of being deceived by Israel into supporting the war.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The singer has long been a proponent of strict boundaries between celebrities, fans, and paparazzi.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
22 Mar. 2026
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The purpose of the bill is to protect jobs and to limit stress on workers and customers, proponents said.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The growth has elevated her from partisan provocateur to one of the most influential — and polarizing — voices on the right.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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On Saturday, two Pennsylvania teens who federal prosecutors said were radicalized by ISIS attempted to detonate IED’s at a protest led by right-wing provocateur Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That kind of chaos could easily spill over Iran’s borders, and not just by land; the Persian Gulf is narrow, and would not pose much of an obstacle to terrorists or insurgents who cross it in speedboats.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
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Paxton will counter that Texas runoffs often reward insurgents.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Anglo‑Saxon England converted to Christianity over the seventh century, so some of the charms included appeals to Jesus, Mary, and the apostles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
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The New Testament canon usually includes 27 books, including the four gospels that describe Jesus’ life – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – and Acts, which describes the works of the apostles who continued Jesus’ ministry after his death.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demagogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demagogue. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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