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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. But alas, the word took a negative turn, suggesting one who uses powers of persuasion to sway and mislead.
Synonyms
Examples of demagogue in a Sentence
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
Verb
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
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Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2023
In short, when the Left assaults our constitutional order and way of life, when demagogues thrive, and when public discourse is increasingly focus-grouped and dumbed down, National Review stands athwart.
—The Editors, National Review, 16 Oct. 2023
The new Speaker, a politician who opposes basic human rights for many Americans and who would forswear his oath to the Constitution to keep a dishonest demagogue in power, represents an extreme minority of the country.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2023
Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine now for just $19.99 This article is a selection from the November 2023 issue of Smithsonian magazine
And America had its own rising demagogues.
—Adam Hochschild, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023
This is fertile ground for authoritarian demagogues to sow anger and distrust in democracy and reap support by selling themselves as the only ones who can fix it.
—Matthew Duss, The New Republic, 1 June 2023
Our heroes will not be revolutionary demagogues, but the obscure: the teachers who work out better ways to train underprivileged children, the politicians who devise new institutions, the journalists who persuade us that change is necessary and inescapable.
—Will Stephenson, Harper's Magazine, 16 Aug. 2023
Editorial: Georgia’s indictment of Trump is a legitimate probe of a dangerous demagogue
Aug. 15, 2023
Nearly as bad as acceptance is resignation.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2023
Though a cult figure for his supporters, Khan was seen by critics as a demagogue and would-be authoritarian, who demonized political opponents and mismanaged the country’s affairs.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2023
Rex Nelson, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2023
Now, Kamala Harris came down to Florida, demagogued some of these other people, took her side.
—ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
Don't side with Kamala Harris and liberals who are demagoguing this.
—Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 27 July 2023
The move is part of a familiar pattern with Biden of issuing executive actions to satisfy certain constituents, only to demagogue any legal hurdles as coming from a rogue right-wing Supreme Court.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Apr. 2023
If one side proposes something, the other side will demagogue it.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2023
If lawmakers effectively criminalize profit, then biomedical research and development will grind to a halt—and society won't have innovative medicines for Sen. Sanders to demagogue about.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023
It’s been running expensive ads that defend Mr. Manchin and demagogue the drug industry, which just worked miracles in the pandemic.
—Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022
Reexamining history is painful and requires nuanced public debate -- but is impeded by social media rants, mob scenes and politicians' attempts to demagogue history for their own gain.
—Stephen Collinson With Caitlin Hu, CNN, 24 June 2020
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demagogue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Noun
borrowed from Greek dēmagōgós, from dêmos "people" + -agōgos "leading, impelling" — more at demo-, -agogue
Verb
verbal derivative of demagogue entry 1
Noun
1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1656, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
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Cite this Entry
“Demagogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demagogue. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
demagogue
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on demagogue
Nglish: Translation of demagogue for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of demagogue for Arabic Speakers
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