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

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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 Stories based in this more complex reality of access are not always heroes’ journeys, marked with clear protagonists and moments of self-realization. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 Slater and Thomas are both likable, too often a rare quality among young adult protagonists, and Mann and Frank mostly give them good choices to make. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 After all, an emotional, and intense, journey is also what the protagonists of her movie embark on. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 But the permeability of James’s protagonists suggests that more than just these parts are possible. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 That glass gallery showcases collaborations between Hoffmann and one of the show’s two Jewish and female protagonists, Felice Rix, whose career Hoffmann helped launch. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Every step of the process unfolds with the highest possible stakes, to the point where the investigation jeopardizes the future of multiple industries and threatens the protagonists’ lives. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 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 One of the protagonists, Olive, a top seller, has taken on the issue of fair compensation. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonists
  1. proponents
  2. supporters
  3. advocates
  4. exponents
  5. promoters
Noun
  • What may be alarming to proponents of data privacy is exciting for marketers.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The bill’s proponents have maintained that the law will crack down on voter fraud and is a step toward strengthening voter integrity laws.
    — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of proponents
Noun
  • Was The Friedkin Group's decision not to sell the homegrown midfielder a victory for those loyal supporters who campaigned to keep him?
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Capcom has proven itself to be one of the platform's biggest supporters, bringing nearly all of its new and old releases to the platform.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of supporters
Noun
  • The Paper Receipts Converting Association, a trade group of US manufacturers, pushes back against anti-receipt legislation and advocates for paper receipts as a consumer right, not a relic.
    — HubSpot, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Industry insiders and progressive advocates alike are beginning to acknowledge the reality that the clean energy evolution that offers the most hope for addressing climate change is one that requires society to use every available solution.
    — M Douglas Dagan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 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
  • The festival, hosted by Olivia Rodrigo at the Great Park, was a spiritual successor to Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair of the late ‘90s, born out of frustration with promoters and radio stations that refused to play two female artists in a row.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Cover for cancellations caused by the conflict can be difficult to obtain, potentially leaving promoters exposed to huge losses.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of promoters

Browse Nearby Words

protagonist
protagonists
protean
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Cite this Entry

“Protagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protagonists. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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