as in nuisances
one who is obnoxiously annoying
the journalist was known as a gadfly for exposing hypocrisy in politics
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Recent Examples of gadflies
Renewable energy advocates treat activists like Gilbert as relentless gadflies who need to be stopped for the good of the planet.
—
Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025
Doubling as an account of modern American conservatism (from media gadflies to six Supreme Court justices), the film is punctuated with contemporaneous footage that, viewed through the lens of Olin’s misdeeds, generates the tension and shock of a genre film.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
Tony Schick, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2025
Doubling as an account of modern American conservatism (from media gadflies to six Supreme Court justices), the film is punctuated with contemporaneous footage that, viewed through the lens of Olin’s misdeeds, generates the tension and shock of a genre film.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadflies
Noun
-
The park doesn’t need all these associated nuisances.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
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In Milwaukee, nuisances include loud music, loitering and littering.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Wipe down surfaces and clean crumbs to maintain cleanliness and prevent pests.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Jan. 2026
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Los Angeles County Vector Control officials say that the influx of mosquitoes is likely from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which has created breeding grounds for the annoying pests.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Congress used to debate authorizing such things, but with the GOP House and Senate now reduced to glorified White House staff offices, Trump need not trifle with such annoyances.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
2 Jan. 2026
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Kiehl’s Hydration 2 The Max Set Winter can bring its fair share of skin annoyances and complications—namely, dry skin.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
28 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gadflies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadflies. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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