muckrakers

noun

plural of muckraker
as in journalists
someone who tries to reveal information about prominent individuals behaving badly The newspaper used a team of seasoned muckrakers to expose the corruption at city hall.

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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 muckrakers Famous American muckrakers include Ida Tarbell who wrote about Standard Oil’s monopoly; Lincoln Steffens who wrote about corruption in city halls; and Upton Sinclair who exposed deplorable conditions in the meatpacking industry. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muckrakers
  1. journalists
  2. reporters
Noun
  • The dinner in April devolved into chaos after authorities say Cole Allen opened fire inside the Washington Hilton hotel, where thousands of journalists and guests gathered for the annual celebration of the First Amendment.
    — Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of journalists
Noun
  • Daily newspapers keep scores of advance obituaries on file so reporters aren’t scrambling on deadline when an important person in the community dies.
    — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
  • The Giants had shielded them from reporters until Saturday, when the team gave The Athletic permission to ask them a few questions with Villegas providing the translation.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of reporters

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Cite this Entry

“Muckrakers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muckrakers. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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