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
Columbia University's new president is already facing opposition from anti-Israel rabble-rousers, who have condemned her for previous actions taken against leftist encampments at her last college.
—
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The rich rabble-rouser simply shifts to his next crusade.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026
The president recently called U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a progressive Democratic rabble-rouser, to hash out this idea.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
And still the Swedish rabble-rousers endure.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Bryce Young makes the placid Brock Purdy look like a rabble-rouser at the podium.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
There are also rabble-rousers at the site, yelling expletives as heavily armed federal officers survey them on the sidewalk from a perch up on the roof.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
Most of these commentators, influencers, and rabble-rousers operate outside the mainstream-media spotlight, yet their influence is vast, shaping how the next generation thinks about race, gender, government, and truth itself.
—Clara Molot, Air Mail, 20 Sep. 2025
But the hard-right caucus, typically the House rabble-rousers and thorns in Johnson’s side, are all-in on the rescissions package as vocal supporters of DOGE.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The rich rabble-rouser simply shifts to his next crusade.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026
The president recently called U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a progressive Democratic rabble-rouser, to hash out this idea.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
And still the Swedish rabble-rousers endure.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Bryce Young makes the placid Brock Purdy look like a rabble-rouser at the podium.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
There are also rabble-rousers at the site, yelling expletives as heavily armed federal officers survey them on the sidewalk from a perch up on the roof.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
Most of these commentators, influencers, and rabble-rousers operate outside the mainstream-media spotlight, yet their influence is vast, shaping how the next generation thinks about race, gender, government, and truth itself.
—Clara Molot, Air Mail, 20 Sep. 2025
But the hard-right caucus, typically the House rabble-rousers and thorns in Johnson’s side, are all-in on the rescissions package as vocal supporters of DOGE.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rabble-rouser
Noun
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As the decade wore on, though, my parents grew up—as happens to young rebels—and my mother, unexpectedly, started thinking about having kids.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Their work and mental health were further disrupted when Houthi rebels in Yemen began attacking ships in the Red Sea, with at least nine sailors killed and 11 others held captive for five months.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
French former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who gave France its 35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading France’s Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen, has died.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
An angry deity hurled a firebrand at the swallow, singeing away its middle tail feathers.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Columbia students, along with outside agitators, broke into an academic building and temporarily detained the janitors inside.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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But other than Bedard and MacKenzie Weegar getting into it a couple of times, Mangiapane was the only real agitator the Blackhawks had.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Certainly Arendt, who lived through arguably darker times, did not see them as merely a product of the era’s monstrous demagogues.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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Following the outbreak of COVID-19, bias incidents and assaults against Asian Americans soared to alarming heights as demagogues on the streets and in high office inflamed xenophobic fear and animosity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Neither the artist’s team nor local promoters have issued an official statement regarding the cancellation or the rescheduling of the Milan concert, or possible adjustments to the immediate tour schedule.—
Franchesca Guim,
Billboard,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Local venue and promoter pre-sale will begin on March 25, with tickets going on sale on March 27.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The singer has long been a proponent of strict boundaries between celebrities, fans, and paparazzi.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
22 Mar. 2026
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The purpose of the bill is to protect jobs and to limit stress on workers and customers, proponents said.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The growth has elevated her from partisan provocateur to one of the most influential — and polarizing — voices on the right.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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On Saturday, two Pennsylvania teens who federal prosecutors said were radicalized by ISIS attempted to detonate IED’s at a protest led by right-wing provocateur Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In her concession statement, McDonnell said her campaign had been to provide Republican voters with a choice to fill the open seat, thanking her supporters.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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While Lamont and gun safety advocates strongly favor the measure, supporters of the Second Amendment have been pushing back in both oral and written testimony to the judiciary committee that included more than 180 comments written anonymously.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rabble-rouser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rabble-rouser. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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