propaganda

noun

Definition of propagandanext
as in campaign
usually disapproving ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader, a government, etc. He was accused of spreading propaganda. a propaganda campaign The report was nothing but lies and propaganda.

Related Words

Relevance

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 propaganda The Wesleyan Media Project, a group of experts that tracks political propaganda in campaigns, identified at least 220 ads produced or enhanced with artificial intelligence by candidates or political action committees this election cycle. — Anagilmara Vílchez, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026 The Beijing propaganda machine has been busy eradicating the truth about the Tiananmen Square Massacre for nearly forty years. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026 Then there’s one that’s only been shown in physical spaces that is like a propaganda video for Hollow Earthers. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Wikipedia has failed to purge antisemitic and anti-Israel propaganda pushed by bad-actor editors, the Anti-Defamation League warns. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for propaganda
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propaganda
  1. campaign
  2. advertisement
  3. publicity
  4. ad
  5. advertising
Noun
  • The two candidates finalized the arguments of their campaigns on Saturday, as Lula marched along Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach, while Bolsonaro campaigned in a key battleground state.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The leader, facing a tough re-election battle, has focused much of his campaign ahead of Tuesday’s vote on security.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of campaign
Noun
  • Stevens and el Sayed’s dispute largely centered on an advertisement that Jewish leaders have condemned as antisemitic.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Those plans unraveled after a dispute over Israel and an outside group’s campaign advertisement escalated into a public exchange of criticism between the rivals.
    — Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of advertisement
Noun
  • The maritime confrontations have provided a visual and tactical precedent for international actions, combining disruptions at sea with demonstrations on land and publicity campaigns online.
    — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Publicity and disciplinary action Sabatini argued that the timing of the university’s disciplinary response suggested that publicity had played a significant role.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of publicity
Noun
  • Election forecaster Cook Political Report shifted Ohio’s gubernatorial race toward Democratic candidate Amy Acton on Friday after a week of backlash over an ad Republican Vivek Ramaswamy ran featuring her estranged mother.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Trump canceled trade talks with Canada after the ad aired during the World Series in October 2025.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of ad
Noun
  • Alphabet’s earnings results ignited concerns that Google’s core business of search advertising revenue is threatened by consumers using AI chatbots instead of traditional search.
    — Lucy Bayly, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The companies placed a heavy emphasis on local businesses in their press release announcing the acquisition, indicating that smaller sellers would gain more access to advertising and AI tools from DoorDash and Instacart.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of advertising

Browse Nearby Words

prop
propaganda
propagandas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Propaganda.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propaganda. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on propaganda

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about propaganda

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fulsome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All