demagogue

noun dem·a·gogue \ ˈde-mə-ˌgäg \

variants: or less commonly demagog

|Updated on: 20 Aug 2018

Examples: demagogue in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

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

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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

Executives have fired back with newspaper ads charging the leftist politician, who is making his third run for the presidency, is a populist demagogue who would set Mexico back decades by returning it to a time of heavy-handed state intervention.

— Fox News, "In Mexico, longtime foes 'AMLO' and elite getting pragmatic," 19 June 2018
This rhetoric is bad crime-fighting policy, but the demagogue’s art is about wielding emotions and symbolism for political gain, not solving problems.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "The shocking truth about the Hurricane Maria death toll is our Trump nightmare made real," 30 May 2018
There is a disillusionment with democracy that is familiar across the globe and that lies behind the rise of populist demagogues from Asia to the Americas.

— simon denyer, Washington Post, "Mongolian democracy has a familiar ailment, and it’s all about money," 26 June 2018
There is not much daylight between progressives inciting campus anger at the Koch brothers’ philanthropy and an authoritarian Hungarian demagogue inciting voter anger at philanthropist George Soros.

— WSJ, "If UnKoch Is Fine, What About an UnSoros?," 6 June 2018
Charismatic politicians, and demagogues, have always known how to dramatize life as a struggle between black and white, between good and evil.

— olivia b. waxman, Time, "Oliver North Will Be the Next President of the NRA. Here's What to Know About the Arms Deal That Made Him Famous," 7 May 2018
Kennedy’s early career included working as a Senate staff member for the right-wing demagogue Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

— ross baker, Smithsonian, "Why Robert Kennedy Transformed From a Conservative Into a Liberal Champion of Civil Rights," 5 June 2018
Abensur got me making risotto long before cooking-show demagogues made many a home cook too nervous to try.

— julia tausch, Bon Appetit, "'The Cranks Bible' Is the Only Vegetarian Cookbook I'll Ever Need," 13 June 2018
Today, demagogues spread lies about vaccines to a public rendered susceptible through ignorance.

— michael hicks, Indianapolis Star, "Hicks: What's a trade war? We may soon find out.," 10 June 2018

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

borrowed from Greek dēmagōgós, from dêmos "people" + -agōgos "leading, impelling" — more at demo-, -agogue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

demagogue Synonyms

Synonyms

agitator, exciter, firebrand, fomenter, incendiary, inciter, instigator, kindler, provocateur, rabble-rouser;

Near Antonyms

peacemaker, reconciler, uniter;

advocate, apostle, backer, booster, champion, exponent, persuader, promoter, proponent, reformer, reformist, supporter;

alarmist, extremist, insurgent, insurrectionist, radical, rebel, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist, subversive, troublemaker;

prodder, prompter, provoker;

agent provocateur;

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

demagogue

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