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
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
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
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
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
-
Christian women wishing to reunite their families without calling for Hitler’s demise, or the release of all Jews, were harder for the regime to portray as political enemies or criminal agitators.—
Danielle Wirsansky,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The rebels also fired drones at Israel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The choice was hailed by the president of Azerbaijan and the leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, among other allies.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Most apps have questions requesting users’ ages, and some use specialized identification technology, but proponents say children are getting around these barriers.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Beside the dock lay dozens of canoes owned by the East Bay Regional Park District, which proponents of the new park hope will be utilized more when construction is completed.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That kind of chaos could easily spill over Iran’s borders, and not just by land; the Persian Gulf is narrow, and would not pose much of an obstacle to terrorists or insurgents who cross it in speedboats.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Paxton will counter that Texas runoffs often reward insurgents.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Somaliland’s supporters in Washington view the territory as a potential security ally, with recognition potentially allowing US intelligence to monitor weapons flows, Houthi activity in Yemen, and China’s growing footprint, including Beijing’s military base in neighboring Djibouti.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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If there have been too many mini-resets for the comfort of the supporters, a strength of Howe’s Newcastle has been absorbing lessons and responding, at least some of the time.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The trade association represents more than 1,400 independent venues, festivals, promoters and presenters across the country.—
Gabriella Fine,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Two years later, promoters marketed confusing credits such as the Employee Retention Credit to businesses that did not qualify, collecting fees to file improper claims.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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An unexpectedly and profoundly unnecessary high price for the incendiary firebrands of the destructive new left.—
Bob Ehrlich,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
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Inmates including Sam Bankman-Fried and Harvey Weinstein have turned to such right-wing firebrands as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens to present alternative narratives to their cases.—
Andrew Zucker,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Lost in all the heated rhetoric is the fact that so much of this turmoil would have been avoided if federal detainers were simply honored within local jails and state prisons — away from the public and professional provocateurs who are drawn to uncivil cultural conflict like bees to honey.—
Bob Ehrlich,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
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The pair of social media provocateurs post their bizarre arguments and interactions with everyday New Yorkers, which usually end with them being chased down the street and out of bodegas and residential buildings.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demagogues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demagogues. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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