DEMAGOGUES Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

demagogues

noun

variants also demagogs

plural of demagogue

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

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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 demagogues 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 From ancient sources philosophers and poets, democrats and demagogues, found justification for everything from anarchy to fascism, and there are reasons for both justifications. —

Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026 Without a robust legitimacy narrative, demagogues fill the vacuum. —

Annelise Riles, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026 In turn, the erosion of trust has weakened the social contract that sustains representative government, leaving democracies more vulnerable to populist demagogues, institutional paralysis, and the gradual normalization of authoritarian alternatives. —

Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 Studies show that as a result of these cycles, Americans on the left and right have developed an exaggerated sense of the other side’s hostility, exactly as some political demagogues intend. —

Adam G. Klein, The Conversation, 12 Nov. 2025 America seems unlikely to be made great again by the demagogues of white nationalism, who cannot help but channel fury over irreversible decline at those who have been working hard, through either literal or spiritual immigration, to become American. —

Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 Our shrinking attention span has left us vulnerable to demagogues and misinformation from every direction. —

Doug McIntyre, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025 Because huge shocks to the system tend to empower either a) bold problem solvers or b) populist demagogues. —

Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for demagogues

Noun

Both largely blamed outside agitators, noting that conservative influencers urged people to attend the meeting and several of the speakers came from surrounding towns.

— Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
This, in my view, would have kept these agitators away from ICE agents, and almost certainly would have prevented both deaths.

— Michael Zais, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026