PROTAGONISTS Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

protagonists

noun

plural of protagonist

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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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 protagonists The creators seem to be telling us Paladin has more in common with the protagonists than with his mysterious client, who calls him yet again for some completely redundant threats. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 On Klara and the Sun, Waititi’s vision was informed by a history of telling stories led by younger protagonists, as well as his own life as a father. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 Ever rigorous and diligent, Li creates vivid cradle-to-grave portraits of her two protagonists. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 But films need familiar plots, so the protagonists—all men—go searching for connection. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 As the film progresses and the paths of the three protagonists cross in one way or another, the timbres and instrumental approach also begin to blend. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 John Field, one of Li’s two protagonists, was in fact a classical pianist of some repute, having invented the nocturne form of composition that Chopin would make famous in Field’s lifetime. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The boundary of life is clearly marked for Austen’s protagonists, in geography as well as in status. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonists

Noun

Currently not even the strongest proponents of the Many Worlds interpretation agree on how to answer these questions.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The No campaign accused measure proponents of misusing the state office.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of proponents

Noun

Student groups protesting since mid-September through school blockades have urged supporters to join them.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
An hour before a ball was even kicked on Sunday afternoon, the beating of drums and chanting from the River Guard supporters group could be heard loud and clear from the locker rooms at the Boas Soccer Complex.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of supporters

Noun

In March 2026, two presidential commissions recommended that the evictions continue in order to protect wildlife, in a process that included few Maasai, Indigenous peoples’ advocates at the Oakland Institute reported.

— David Ginsburg, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
That's one reason Levin, along with many other public school advocates, continues to push back against the tax credit.

— Cory Turner, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of advocates

Noun

Grupo Duelo, one of the most prominent exponents of norteño tejano music, will be part of the Billboard Latin Music Week 2026, representing traditional regional Mexican music.

— Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
Of course, there are also age-old hustles so evidently dishonest that there was a time when their exponents risked being hung or shot.

— Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of exponents

Noun

Two vocal supporters of Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra filed a formal campaign finance complaint against his rival, Steve Hilton, on Tuesday over the Republican campaign’s use of paid online promoters.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Fears about a future AI apocalypse distract us from its present-day harms — just as its promoters hope.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of promoters

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protagonist

protagonists

protean

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“Protagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protagonists. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of protagonists

noun

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