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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 protagonists 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 To put the ensemble on equal footing, La Bola Negra will be running its three protagonists in Supporting Actor. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Multiple New York Times opinion columnists have argued that straight men aren’t reading for lack of relatable protagonists. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 The perspective and agency of the protagonists shift, motivated by their desire for justice and reparations. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 While finishing her new novel ‘American Hagwon,’ author Min Jin Lee traveled to Sydney to discover how the city may have shaped her fictional protagonists. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026 When the race goes green on Sunday, Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar — protagonists in a late accident at Bristol and the fistfight that followed — will be subjects of intense scrutiny. — Reid Spencer, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 Three students emerge as protagonists, two troublemaking boys and an outcast girl, who unsteadily becomes their friend. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonists

Noun

That could explain why spinning galaxies can be held together without needing an extra source of gravity from dark matter, its proponents have argued.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Peptide proponents argue that shoddy manufacturing — not the peptides — causes harm.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of proponents

Noun

But much like the way studios and directors of the 1960s and ’70s embraced the once-taboo profanity and nudity, this year AI has found a new wave of advocates eager to go public.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
The payments are adjusted every year based on inflation, but many older Americans and their advocates have long said that the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) formula doesn’t match the actual increase in expenses.

— Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 13 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

Browse Nearby Words

protagonist

protagonists

protean

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Protagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protagonists. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of protagonists

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

outlandish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes