Synonyms of gadfly

gadfly

noun

ˈgad-ˌflī 

as in nuisance

one who is obnoxiously annoying

the journalist was known as a gadfly for exposing hypocrisy in politics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nuisance
• annoyer
• pest
• annoyance
• tease
• persecutor
• bother
• pain in the neck
• headache
• pain
• nudnik
• gnawer
• teaser
• interrupter
• heckler
• plague
• tormentor
• harrier
• torturer
• harasser
• molester
• hassle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• charmer
• comforter
• soother
• smoothy
• solacer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gadfly

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

Among those present at the annual David Horowitz Freedom Center retreat in 2017 was a young Candace Owens, then striving to make her mark as a black conservative gadfly on social media. — Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

As horse and rider approached the Olympian gates, Zeus sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, who bolted and threw his rider. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Nov. 2025

The truth teller/journalist/gadfly/detective set out to uncover the truth about the death of a member of a powerful Tulsa political family but must acknowledge how much harm his investigation has caused. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025

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