as in proponents
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
Milton Friedman is usually cited as the leading American protagonist of monetarism
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Recent Examples of protagonists
The creators were determined to portray their senior characters as courageous protagonists rather than comic relief.
—
Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
But with a new season finale comes a new disaster for our protagonists to face head-on.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
The switcheroo that the director pulls between the two protagonists, starting her film with Said but then losing him for a chunk of the running time, can also prove a bit aggravating, especially because actor Letifov (who was also in Western) has such a photogenic face.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2026
Unlike traditional college comedies like Road Trip or Revenge of the Nerds, the male protagonists of Off Campus were written by women.
—Anna Rinderspacher, Glamour, 20 May 2026
In many of them, the protagonists know the systemic obstacles designed to keep them down.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
While the three protagonists are played by Korean actors, the family of extraterrestrial bad guys are played by English-speaking actors Michael Fassbender, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 May 2026
Both books feature protagonists who are out of their elements but also possess unique attributes that first get them into trouble before becoming their one slim hope to escape.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Authors Ron Currie and David Heska Wanbli Weiden both return to their singular protagonists with narratives that deepen their legends by immersing readers in overlooked communities.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
But with a new season finale comes a new disaster for our protagonists to face head-on.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
The switcheroo that the director pulls between the two protagonists, starting her film with Said but then losing him for a chunk of the running time, can also prove a bit aggravating, especially because actor Letifov (who was also in Western) has such a photogenic face.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2026
Unlike traditional college comedies like Road Trip or Revenge of the Nerds, the male protagonists of Off Campus were written by women.
—Anna Rinderspacher, Glamour, 20 May 2026
In many of them, the protagonists know the systemic obstacles designed to keep them down.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
While the three protagonists are played by Korean actors, the family of extraterrestrial bad guys are played by English-speaking actors Michael Fassbender, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 May 2026
Both books feature protagonists who are out of their elements but also possess unique attributes that first get them into trouble before becoming their one slim hope to escape.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Authors Ron Currie and David Heska Wanbli Weiden both return to their singular protagonists with narratives that deepen their legends by immersing readers in overlooked communities.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonists
Noun
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France and China remain two of the world’s strongest proponents of nuclear power at a time when many economies are reconsidering energy security, grid stability, and industrial decarbonization while eschewing nuclear options.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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Last month, proponents of a proposal to tax California billionaires obtained enough signatures for the measure to appear on the November ballot.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
In Strasbourg, groups of Palace supporters clashed among themselves in a square in the city centre, marring the occasion.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
New Hampshire, which rejected the DNC’s plan, held a leadoff primary ahead of South Carolina anyway, and Biden — who didn’t campaign or have his name on the ballot — still won by a sizable margin after supporters mounted a write-in campaign on his behalf.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Noun
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The advocates who wrote the policy plan said these efforts should accelerate and expand.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
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In the late 16th century, advocates of English colonization understood that descriptions of North America could make foreign territory more enticing to potential migrants.—
Peter C. Mancall,
The Conversation,
25 May 2026
Noun
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This movement, known as critical legal studies, was associated with the political left, and its exponents, known as crits, loved to disparage liberal theorists’ devotion to the Constitution as naïve and counterproductive.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Of course, Huang wasn’t talking to just anyone, but one of the chief exponents of the wealth tax, nationwide and in California.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nio signed on several brand promoters, including Robin Zeng, the CEO of CATL, the industry's battery giant, who affirmed in a marketing video that about 2,000 of his employees had bought Nio cars.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
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Practical approaches to foster this connection can include participating in smaller club takeovers and hosting intimate pre-festival events that allow promoters, artists and brands to build direct relationships with audiences.—
Sunita Dhaliwal,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protagonists. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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