variants
also demagogs
as in agitators
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 demagogues
Assayas portrays the Russian populace as merely manipulated, as if voters were blank slates for effective propaganda rather than people with moral compasses, capacities for judgment and humanity, ideas and opinions that demagogues recognize and stoke.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.
—Alma Hernandez, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Does the rise of right-wing demagogues offer chilling parallels to the Pinochet era?
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Leftist demagogues specialize in lose-lose-lose policies.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Certainly Arendt, who lived through arguably darker times, did not see them as merely a product of the era’s monstrous demagogues.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, bias incidents and assaults against Asian Americans soared to alarming heights as demagogues on the streets and in high office inflamed xenophobic fear and animosity.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
In the long term, this failure to address deep social problems contributes to the erosion of people’s trust in governments and institutions, breeding nihilism and an attraction to demagogues who claim to have easy answers.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Without a robust legitimacy narrative, demagogues fill the vacuum.
—Annelise Riles, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.
—Alma Hernandez, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Does the rise of right-wing demagogues offer chilling parallels to the Pinochet era?
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Leftist demagogues specialize in lose-lose-lose policies.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Certainly Arendt, who lived through arguably darker times, did not see them as merely a product of the era’s monstrous demagogues.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, bias incidents and assaults against Asian Americans soared to alarming heights as demagogues on the streets and in high office inflamed xenophobic fear and animosity.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
In the long term, this failure to address deep social problems contributes to the erosion of people’s trust in governments and institutions, breeding nihilism and an attraction to demagogues who claim to have easy answers.
—Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Without a robust legitimacy narrative, demagogues fill the vacuum.
—Annelise Riles, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demagogues
Noun
-
Instead of removing the anti-free speech agitators, UNLV police escorted Peer off campus.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
-
Instead of removing the anti-free speech agitators, UNLV police escorted Peer off campus.—
Las Vegas Review-Journal,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Puskin was sent into exile by Tsar Alexander I after his poem Ode to Liberty was found among the possessions of the rebels of the Decemberist uprising.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The rebels have imprisoned thousands of people including United Nations staffers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
South Korean offerings, the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Pallisade, are still relative industry newcomers with strong proponents, few detractors and increasing sales.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
-
Those lagging sales, proponents of the theory argue, are largely driven by would-be concertgoers growing disillusioned with high ticket prices, while also facing inflation and oversaturation.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Many advanced states understand the need for some kind of violent reaction to terrorists or insurgents, usually as a task for special-operations forces.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
-
Both political insurgents were elected under extraordinary circumstances.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
While the emotional weight of a mother defending her child is undeniable, supporters of Save Girls’ Sports argue compassion for one athlete should not come at the expense of opportunities for other young women.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
In recent months, McCann and a team of supporters, including many public school teachers, have knocked on hundreds of doors, arguing that McCann is the candidate who most supports public education, including the state’s flagship public university, which is located in her district.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Mitchell said there are plenty of less visible local efforts to boost Memphis artists, such as promoters working to get them on tours with national headliners.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Trump account promoters have massively overstated the potential wealth gains for ordinary Americans.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Since arriving on the scene almost a decade ago, the trio have presented themselves as firebrands, ready to stick it to an establishment seeking to strangle the last remnants of 20th century Irish republicanism.—
Dean Van Nguyen,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
-
An unexpectedly and profoundly unnecessary high price for the incendiary firebrands of the destructive new left.—
Bob Ehrlich,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Just a funny parasocial back-and-forth between some of the most passionate fans in sports and one of the best provocateurs the SEC has seen since Steve Spurrier.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Alliances with independents and provocateurs can bring younger crowds to the traditional news fold in an era when such viewership is not guaranteed.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demagogues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demagogues. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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