Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gadfly Listening to activist investors can be a chore for many management teams and boards, who tend to think of activists as massive distractions taking them away from the business of actually running their enterprises or attention-hungry gadflies who merely take credit for changes already underway. Owen Tripp, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024 Beforehand, we’re treated to comic gadfly Robert Benchley traversing the studio lot. Josh Spiegel, Vulture, 24 July 2024 Meenakshi Ahamed, the author of a forthcoming book on Indian Americans, notes that many prominent figures—Indra Nooyi, the former C.E.O. of PepsiCo; Vivek Ramaswamy, the conservative gadfly—have Brahman heritage. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024 In Troy, a newcomer – an outspoken gadfly in city meetings – narrowly lost his bid for a City Council seat. Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gadfly 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadfly
Noun
  • The site’s structure is a nuisance for anyone invested in controlling how information is disseminated.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Kurt's key takeaways Robocalls can be a real nuisance, especially for flip phone users.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • According to Orkin's Bed Bug Registry, these pests are expert hitchhikers, making hotels, luggage and second-hand furniture prime targets.
    Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Farmers there must submit an odor and pest control plan to the county and can build no more than four barns holding egg-laying hens or eight houses for raising chickens for slaughter.
    Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Zverev trudged to his bench, shoulders sagging, and dropped his racket on an equipment bag, a gesture that conveyed annoyance more than anger.
    Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Share [Findings] The nocturnal heart rate of young men can be predicted by their female partners’ daytime feelings of intimacy or annoyance.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gadfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadfly. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

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