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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of demagogue
Today a new generation of demagogues claim to be fighting to liberate aggrieved majorities from outsiders’ control.
—
Derek R. Peterson, The Conversation, 18 July 2025
But today’s leaders, willfully do the biddings of billionaires and backed by demagogues in exchange for power and privilege, are ignoring that call.
—Jared Nordlund, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 July 2025
Today, as fears of authoritarianism and political demagogues have been unexpectedly rekindled, certain episodes are again recalled, especially those with political and social themes – which were contained within at least 1/3 of the total produced.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025
At a time when the demagogue Father Coughlin was flooding the radio with antisemitic hate speech, Berg offered counterprogramming.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demagogue
Derek R. Peterson, The Conversation, 18 July 2025
But today’s leaders, willfully do the biddings of billionaires and backed by demagogues in exchange for power and privilege, are ignoring that call.
—Jared Nordlund, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 July 2025
Today, as fears of authoritarianism and political demagogues have been unexpectedly rekindled, certain episodes are again recalled, especially those with political and social themes – which were contained within at least 1/3 of the total produced.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025
At a time when the demagogue Father Coughlin was flooding the radio with antisemitic hate speech, Berg offered counterprogramming.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demagogue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demagogue
Noun
-
But while that may serve Natthaphong’s interests to appear as the chief agitator for reform, losing his military foil could conversely prove problematic.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The following day, Musk made a remote appearance at a London march organized by the far-right agitator known as Tommy Robinson.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The young firebrand, 31, was a staunch political ally of Trump and helped fuel his political comeback and return to the White House in January.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The Georgia firebrand, who has been insistent that the United States stay out of affairs abroad, has attempted similar amendments to both the NDAA and appropriations bills in past years and recently, with no success.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By removing the quarterly standard in favor of a semiannual one, proponents believe investors will get a management team that is more long-term focused.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Even so, proponents of speed reading programs point to data showing that students’ reading speed improves while maintaining comprehension.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But in a region being fought over by a patchwork of anti-junta rebel groups, the military and pro-military militia – and given the widespread distrust of the Rohingya – information on where exactly his family are, or what will become of them, has not been forthcoming.—
Esha Mitra,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
By the finale, the galactic chessboard is crowded with players—emperors, rebels, prophets, impostors—but as Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) warned in the very first episode, the center cannot hold.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The British band’s inaugural stop in Latin America on their highly successful Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour — which launched in Cardiff, Wales, on July 4 — drew a crowd of 65,000 fans at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros, according to promoter OCESA.—
Natalia Cano,
Billboard,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But major contract hurdles including race dates with the potential promoter, along with other issues will prevent that from happening in 2026.—
Bruce Martin,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
On the other side of the barricades outside Roy Thomson Hall, Tarek Haj Ebrahim, another pro-Palestine protester, reiterated that the Canadian documentary was part of Israel’s propaganda campaign.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
-
One such incident occurred in the UK in October 2022, when a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the grounds of a Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten, in events captured on camera.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Conservative influencers including Chaya Raichik, author of the anti-trans hate account LibsOfTikTok, trashed those teams while commending those that asked their crowds to pause and reflect on the late provocateur.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Kirk also earned a national reputation as a far-right provocateur.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Joining Brad Cox as 2025 Kentucky Downs meet champions are LaFranco Dettori as leading rider (9 wins) and Godolphin as top owner (4 wins).—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Cox is a long-time champion of civility and an opponent of political polarization, USA TODAY reported.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demagogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demagogue. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share