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
In podcasting, for example, so many writers or social media gadflies publish the Best Of List as a recycled version of the Top Ten podcasts ranked by downloads.
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Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Their false claims about getting financially fleeced by Uncle Sam were fueled by a rather sophisticated, albeit deceitful and shameful lobbying campaign, sponsored by greedy gadflies out to make a quick buck.
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Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
Renewable energy advocates treat activists like Gilbert as relentless gadflies who need to be stopped for the good of the planet.
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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.
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Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Their false claims about getting financially fleeced by Uncle Sam were fueled by a rather sophisticated, albeit deceitful and shameful lobbying campaign, sponsored by greedy gadflies out to make a quick buck.
—
Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadflies
Noun
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Besides being nuisances, many types carry diseases including West Nile virus, encephalitis, and canine heartworm.
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If the nuisances continue at Albany Care, the city is seeking a court order to shut the facility down, separate from the state action.
Noun
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In addition to its ability to regulate moisture, hempcrete is resistant to pests and fire.
-
Once pests are removed, there may be more necessary patching to prevent water seepage.
Noun
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From everyday disruptions to other inconveniences and (perhaps) annoyances, things pop up.
-
These scams are not random annoyances.
Cite this Entry
“Gadflies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadflies. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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