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
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Recent Examples of demagogues
But those standards can be easily stretched by demagogues, and a simple majority on the committee is enough to ban a party, though a panel of nine Supreme Court justices can overturn the decision on appeal.
—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 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
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 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
-
The majority of speakers at Tuesday’s board meeting urged the board not to allow online agitators to dictate personnel decisions.
-
In recent years, agitators have fueled anti-immigration street violence following crimes committed by, or falsely reported to have been committed by, immigrants.
Noun
-
And the old person who rebels is ridiculous.
-
There was relative peace for 11 years, until a second civil war erupted in 1983, when leaders in Khartoum imposed sharia (Islamic) law and accelerated repression of the southern Christian rebels, which ultimately allowed a ruthless military officer, Omar al-Bashir, to come to power in 1989.
Noun
-
Many proponents believe that access to affordable models will act as a leveler, allowing smaller enterprises to innovate, test, and gain insights in ways previously that were previously much more challenging.
-
David DaCosta, of the 18-acre Ace*Mission Studios, is among those pushing for what’s known as a Business Improvement District, or BID, in the area that proponents refer to as the Boyle Heights Industrial Flats, which runs adjacent to the river.
Noun
-
Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long seen clashes between security forces, insurgents and drug smugglers.
-
Nine American soldiers died and 27 others were injured while fighting a battle against 200 Taliban insurgents in the village of Wanat in Afghanistan’s Waygal Valley.
Noun
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The House passed a bipartisan package of children’s online safety bills in a 267-117 vote Monday, advancing legislation that supporters say would better protect children online but critics warn could threaten privacy and free expression.
-
Meanwhile, singing anthems at England national team matches is nothing new for English supporters.
Noun
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As genetics, psychology, and neuroscience ascended, the twentieth century sent physiognomy back into disrepute, and today, from Lavater to Lombroso, its promoters may seem a racist shade of quaint.
-
The biggest issue is the promoters that, for lack of a better word, don’t really understand what their job is, who are perpetuating the issue by rewarding the young men and women that are going out of their way to do these crazy things – jumping off of balconies, crazy moves every match.
Noun
-
The 2026 midterms are already being shaken up by populist firebrands and antiestablishment outsiders.
-
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.
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.
-
Alliances with independents and provocateurs can bring younger crowds to the traditional news fold in an era when such viewership is not guaranteed.
Cite this Entry
“Demagogues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demagogues. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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