as in rebel
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
rabble-rousers inciting hungry people in breadlines to demand social justice
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Recent Examples of rabble-rouser
The Hause Family Campfire is the traditional Friday night closer of SUH, and this year’s guitar pull featured the Hauses, Sean Bonnette of the group AJJ, Tim McIlrath from hardcore rabble-rousers Rise Against, and newcomer Jon Muq.
—
Trip McClatchy, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
Teaming up with counterculture rabble-rouser Jerry Rubin, Lennon and Ono speak of peace and love with a naïveté that is both poignant and inspiring.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Every decade in fact seems to have had its own rabble-rouser whose shunning of norms have pushed the medium further and further, even if their own material was too out-there to gain a wide audience.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025
Senate fiscal hawks are making a steep set of demands in negotiations over the debt ceiling, driving an even harder bargain than the House rabble-rousers who won $2 trillion in cuts.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2025
Back when the group was starting out, Mayor Koch sent the city’s coordinator for criminal justice, Robert Keating, to embed with Sliwa and get a read on this rabble-rouser.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Paul’s ability to maintain his standing in the party despite being among his conference’s rabble-rousers, such as Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Ron Johnson (R-WI), is in part thanks to his public willingness to air his grievances.
—Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Mar. 2025
In the week leading up to the 2001 Daytona 500, Hinton was portrayed as a rabble-rouser and a muckraker by NASCAR and its fans.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
This year, the Super Bowl booked Compton firebrand Kendrick Lamar, offering a former award-show rabble-rouser an audience with President Trump in attendance.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Trip McClatchy, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
Teaming up with counterculture rabble-rouser Jerry Rubin, Lennon and Ono speak of peace and love with a naïveté that is both poignant and inspiring.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Every decade in fact seems to have had its own rabble-rouser whose shunning of norms have pushed the medium further and further, even if their own material was too out-there to gain a wide audience.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025
Senate fiscal hawks are making a steep set of demands in negotiations over the debt ceiling, driving an even harder bargain than the House rabble-rousers who won $2 trillion in cuts.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2025
Back when the group was starting out, Mayor Koch sent the city’s coordinator for criminal justice, Robert Keating, to embed with Sliwa and get a read on this rabble-rouser.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Paul’s ability to maintain his standing in the party despite being among his conference’s rabble-rousers, such as Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Ron Johnson (R-WI), is in part thanks to his public willingness to air his grievances.
—Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Mar. 2025
In the week leading up to the 2001 Daytona 500, Hinton was portrayed as a rabble-rouser and a muckraker by NASCAR and its fans.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
This year, the Super Bowl booked Compton firebrand Kendrick Lamar, offering a former award-show rabble-rouser an audience with President Trump in attendance.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rabble-rouser
Noun
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Despite all their years of playing cat-and-mouse, Diego Luna’s rebel spy Cassian Andor and Kyle Soller‘s Empire agent Syril Karn have never had much screen time together — until now.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
7 May 2025
-
Israel has repeatedly targeted the rebels in Yemen.—
Elena Becatoros,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2025
Noun
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His presence in the White House was also a lightning rod for far-right activists, including Laura Loomer, a firebrand right-wing commentator who is known to have Trump’s ear.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 May 2025
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For me, one of those was a photo of comedian Bill Maher—longtime liberal firebrand—having dinner with President Donald Trump, a figure he’s relentlessly criticized for years.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Neuer argued that the U.S. should act using a similar principle to the one used in cases against anti-Israel agitators, such as Mahmoud Khalil.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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The specter of foreign agitators contaminating American political culture loomed large in these debates.—
Rick Baldoz,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The explosive growth of Pokémon has been great for show promoters.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
Outside of its quarterly earnings, Live Nation of course still faces a DOJ antitrust lawsuit over monopoly allegations as the Justice department called for a breakup of the eponymous concert promoter and ticketing giant Ticketmaster last year.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2025
Noun
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The film’s self-deprecatingly comedic artifice nonetheless captures chilling details of an adventure that starts with a demagogue’s cult-like following and ends with bloody corpses.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
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Consider this, too: If a demagogue can whip up animosity toward even a liberal democracy such as Canada, what can’t a demagogue do?—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Roberts pressed one of the bill’s proponents about the measure’s shield law provision, which would prohibit Colorado authorities from removing a child receiving gender-affirming care from a parent’s home because of another state’s laws.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
1 May 2025
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While proponents of a missile corps like Lieberman may welcome such an acquisition, Israel has doubled down on using the air force as its foremost tool for offensive operations.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Noun
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A couple of weeks ago, the provocateur Laura Loomer got the White House to force the firing of some of his aides, which was a little like taking personnel advice from Lyndon LaRouche.—
The Editors,
National Review,
2 May 2025
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In a flash, the internet provocateur struck with a loaded punch, dropping Styles to the mat.—
Russ Weakland,
EW.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Nevertheless, supporters are calling the Texas law a major win for the school choice movement.—
Kayla Jimenez,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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Led by Pereira, Wolves’ players and staff joined hands, formed a line, walked towards their supporters and raised their hands in the air three times to initiate three loud cheers from the stands.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rabble-rouser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rabble-rouser. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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