as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
the journalist was known as a gadfly for exposing hypocrisy in politics
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Recent Examples of gadfly
Taylor was the alternative-rock gadfly of that scene in that era, whereas Taff was known for a more earnest approach, coming out of the vocal group the Imperials into solo stardom, and highly regarded then and since for his belting abilities.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 14 June 2025
Malema, a notorious gadfly and former leader of the youth wing of the African National Congress, was long ago expelled amid a storm of fights with the party’s leaders.
—Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The night began with an interruption from Paperboy Prince, the activist and perennial gadfly candidate, who hijacked the stage wearing clown makeup and white gloves.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Political tumult in Arizona opened a path for a perennial election gadfly with anti-government leanings to win the governor’s race.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for gadfly
Chris Willman, Variety, 14 June 2025
Malema, a notorious gadfly and former leader of the youth wing of the African National Congress, was long ago expelled amid a storm of fights with the party’s leaders.
—Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The night began with an interruption from Paperboy Prince, the activist and perennial gadfly candidate, who hijacked the stage wearing clown makeup and white gloves.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Political tumult in Arizona opened a path for a perennial election gadfly with anti-government leanings to win the governor’s race.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for gadfly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadfly
Noun
-
Couples who respect yellow lights tend to build trust, because hesitation is treated as valuable input, not as a nuisance.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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In this era of college athletics what was once a nuisance and an annoyance — college classes — now often appear to not even be a part of the equation.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
It was used in homes, gardens and office buildings to control pests.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
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Though hostas can be pruned in spring, it’s not recommended since those decaying leaves can harbor pests and diseases over the winter and eventually kill the plant.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Anxiety can contribute to feelings of frustration, annoyance, or anger.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
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And yet, by the end, my confusion and annoyance almost felt like the point.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gadfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadfly. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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