demagogue

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noun dem·a·gogue \ ˈde-mə-ˌgäg \

variants: or less commonly demagog

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

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demagoguery

play \-ˌgä-g(ə-)rē\ noun

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demagogy

play \-ˌgä-gē, -ˌgä-jē, -ˌgō-jē\ noun

See demagogue defined for English-language learners

See demagogue defined for kids

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Examples of demagogue in a Sentence

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
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
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
His opponent called him a bigoted demagogue.
that politician is just a demagogue who preys upon people's fears and prejudices

Recent Examples of demagogue from the Web

While Mussolini and Hitler ascended the European stage around 1930, two American demagogues also rose to fame: Senator Huey Long and Father Charles Coughlin.

— aaron carico, Teen Vogue, "5 Ways Fascism Has Existed in America Since the 1700s," 28 Aug. 2017
Trump won the nomination by outflanking every other Republican as an authoritarian demagogue and a racist.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Steve Bannon’s Talent for Destruction," 18 Aug. 2017
Readers today say that the book still offers remarkable insights into human behavior and sheds light on why people might, for instance, sympathize with terrorists or support a dangerous demagogue as a national leader.

— brad tuttle, SI.com, "Here Are the Four Books Mark Cuban Is Reading This Summer," 1 Aug. 2017
Trump stormed the White House last year as a Republican in name but an ideology-free demagogue in practice, and his success scared real conservatives into acquiescence.

— douglas perry, OregonLive.com, "Republican leaders are abandoning Donald Trump; talk of 2020 primary challenge grows (Commentary)," 1 Aug. 2017
Part of the answer is a technical one: The Electoral College, designed to protect the country from demagogues, instead elected one.

— david frum, The Atlantic, "The Souring of American Exceptionalism," 3 July 2017
But then, as that last bit suggests, such demagogues have always maintained a distinction between the industrious rich and the money-changers.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Populist President Says He’d Rather Get Economic Advice From Wall Street Than ‘a Poor Person’," 22 June 2017
Throughout the campaign Democrats and even some Republicans relentlessly assailed Goldwater as a demagogue and a leader of right-wing extremism.

— kurtis lee, latimes.com, "Trump and the Goldwater Rule: When is it OK to voice a professional opinion about the mental health of the president?," 19 June 2017
What cost did Kelly ever pay for being a racial demagogue?

— michael arceneaux, The Root, "Megyn Kelly’s Interview With Alex Jones Was a Waste of Everyone’s Time," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'demagogue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

When the ancient Greeks used dēmagōgos (from dēmos, meaning "people," and agein, "to lead") they meant someone good-a leader who used outstanding oratorical skills to further the interests of the common people. Mid-17th-century writers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Dryden-and, later, Jonathan Swift-employed the English word that way. But, at the same time, the word took a negative turn, coming to suggest one who uses powers of persuasion to sway and mislead. "A plausible, insignificant word, in the mouth of an expert demagogue, is a dangerous and a dreadful weapon," declared Robert South, known for his sermons, in 1716.

Origin and Etymology of demagogue

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

See Words from the same year

demagogue Synonyms

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

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

demagogue

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verb dem·a·gogue \ ˈde-mə-ˌgäg \

variants: or less commonly demagog

Definition of demagogue

demagogued also demagoged; demagoguing also demagoging

intransitive verb

:to behave like a demagogue

transitive verb

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

Examples of demagogue in a Sentence

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