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 Numerous other features not in competition include Oscar winner Paul Schrader’s latest directing project, The Basics of Philosophy, exploring his usual concerns of guilt and repression involving older male protagonists. — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 School scenes, one pupil getting questioned about his threat of violence against schoolmates, and images of the protagonists in the forest create unsettling atmosphere. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026 Seven of the 11 projects at Alliance 4 Development, Locarno’s platform for bigger projects, have young protagonists or as co-leads. — John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026 One of the protagonists, Olive, a top seller, has taken on the issue of fair compensation. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026 The actress was at a tipping point in her career, shifting from easily relatable protagonists to more complicated characters who didn’t require our affection or our pity. — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026 In delas Alas’ Ina Montecillo, a solo parent who will stop at nothing to provide for her 12 children, Deramas found one of his most iconic and beloved protagonists. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026 The protagonists were filmed in South Africa, one of the few countries where Palestinians from the Gaza Strip can enter without a visa. — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 Speaking to voters Of course, there are skeptics everywhere in this arena, not least concerning the two main protagonists. — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonists

Noun

As for the animal health risk, many proponents point out that screwworm made it into the US either through infested wildlife or via flies themselves while the border was closed to the cattle trade.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Termini could not provide an explanation as to why proponents opted to revive an unrelated, inactive bill.

— Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of proponents

Noun

As the court met Monday on Yabloko’s appeal, the party’s supporters gathered outside the courthouse and Russian media reported that several dozen people were detained.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
That's where authorities broke up confrontations and made some arrests after supporters from both sides clashed.

— J.D. Miles, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of supporters

Noun

For advocates, the Pate case became another example of concerns that have been building for years.

— Ginger Allen, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Parents and caregivers of intellectually disabled or non-speaking autistic people sometimes argue that neurodivergent self-advocates with low support needs can’t speak for those with disabilities that affect their daily lives in more profound ways.

— Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of advocates

Noun

His mind didn’t go blank; rather, all the what-ifs multiplied like exponents, crowding his thoughts and rendering him unable to envision anything else.

— Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
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

Definition of exponents

Noun

Colón’s family filed a $50 million lawsuit against Ashby and the fight’s promoters for allowing the fight to continue.

— Matt Moret, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
The idea sometimes asserted by promoters that asset protection planning can allow a person to decrease their insurance coverage is false.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 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 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of protagonists

noun

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