as in proponents
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
Milton Friedman is usually cited as the leading American protagonist of monetarism
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of protagonists
The protagonists also have some famous hot takes throughout the book — on everything from music to exercising — which Bader, 29, and Blyth, 30, don’t necessarily agree with.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The joke isn’t on the protagonists for feeling justifiable feelings.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Writing children’s books and running Liberation Station are the same work—ensuring Black children see themselves as protagonists in every story.
—Essence, 7 Jan. 2026
Each of Cicellis’s young protagonists arrives at the grim realization that their life is circumscribed not by a god but by the pull of obligation to an undeserving parent or mentor.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
The sometimes unbearable suspense of wondering what will happen next can propel even the most mediocre thriller movies forward, and the best ones can use that tension to also probe deep into the psyches of our protagonists.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
This retro-style game continues the vision of those chapters but puts players in control of two protagonists – Kenji Mozu and Kumori.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
At the cottage, our protagonists replace the furtive glances and locker-room tension from earlier episodes with quiet intimacy and words of affirmation.
—Chris Dong, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025
This show could be some kind of social commentary if these characters weren’t meant to be the protagonists.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The joke isn’t on the protagonists for feeling justifiable feelings.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
Writing children’s books and running Liberation Station are the same work—ensuring Black children see themselves as protagonists in every story.
—Essence, 7 Jan. 2026
Each of Cicellis’s young protagonists arrives at the grim realization that their life is circumscribed not by a god but by the pull of obligation to an undeserving parent or mentor.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
The sometimes unbearable suspense of wondering what will happen next can propel even the most mediocre thriller movies forward, and the best ones can use that tension to also probe deep into the psyches of our protagonists.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
This retro-style game continues the vision of those chapters but puts players in control of two protagonists – Kenji Mozu and Kumori.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
At the cottage, our protagonists replace the furtive glances and locker-room tension from earlier episodes with quiet intimacy and words of affirmation.
—Chris Dong, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025
This show could be some kind of social commentary if these characters weren’t meant to be the protagonists.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonists
Noun
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But proponents of the industry claim that the environmental costs still net out as a plus since the space data centers take processing off the fossil-fuel-burning grid.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
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One of the biggest proponents of the capri resurgence, the supermodel has been making a stylish case for cropped pants since last summer—and her latest iteration takes the divisive Noughties silhouette into Italian girl style territory.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Julia Mejia arguably received the most favorable committee chairmanship of Worrell’s supporters, with education.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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As Venezuelans have slowly emerged from their homes to buy groceries, see family, and go back to work, many are leaving their phones at home, concerned about their devices being searched by armed supporters of the government known as colectivos.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Environmental justice and conservation advocates’ push to advance a bill aimed at strengthening California’s Environmental Quality Act stalled, as the measure was pulled from Monday’s hearing agenda.—
Chaewon Chung
Updated January 12,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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Representation matters Autism advocates are celebrating the release of the first-ever Barbie on the spectrum.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The prime exponents are Brentford, with whom Gronnemark has worked on a consultancy basis.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Believing the claims of technology promoters that one or another nirvana is just around the corner is a mug’s game.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Versions of this story have been told before, but what distinguishes Love Saves the Day are the more than 300 interviews Lawrence conducted with promoters, partiers, and legendary DJs such as Frankie Knuckles.—
Andrew Holter,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protagonists. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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