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
Also trailing on the ballot were Jack Potter and political gadfly Margaret Carrasco.
—
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
This is an aberration of progressivism — the flip side of beleaguered social media gadfly Andy Ngo, the independent muckraker who exposes mainstream media’s protection of Antifa.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Feb. 2025
Like any gadfly, Kennedy’s willingness to challenge institutions and conventional wisdom has sometimes led him to question things that needed questioning, not least during the Covid era’s riot of hubris and deceit in the public health sector.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Jan. 2025
Keith Turner, along with political gadfly Margaret Carrasco, filed objections to her candidacy petitions last month.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gadfly
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
This is an aberration of progressivism — the flip side of beleaguered social media gadfly Andy Ngo, the independent muckraker who exposes mainstream media’s protection of Antifa.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Feb. 2025
Like any gadfly, Kennedy’s willingness to challenge institutions and conventional wisdom has sometimes led him to question things that needed questioning, not least during the Covid era’s riot of hubris and deceit in the public health sector.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Jan. 2025
Keith Turner, along with political gadfly Margaret Carrasco, filed objections to her candidacy petitions last month.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gadfly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadfly
Noun
-
Neighbors call in concerned about true nuisances that could affect the enjoyment of their private property.—
Andrew Wimer,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Reactions to the sudden move varied: Those in the community who considered the festival a nuisance were relieved.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
After a few years of decreasing infection, the pests rarely trouble citrus trees.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2025
-
Wasps are beneficial as pollinators and pest controls, but a nest near your house can cause problems.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Some of those annoyances include busier streets, increased housing prices and tourist traffic.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
-
But investors’ annoyance over his answers pointed to Walgreens’ much deeper problems.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gadfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadfly. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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