as in agitators
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-rousers
Being put on some list of rabble-rousers?
—
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026
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
And still the Swedish rabble-rousers endure.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
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
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026
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
And still the Swedish rabble-rousers endure.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rabble-rousers
Noun
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Over the past decade, Osees have reinvented themselves as prog-metal warriors, hardcore agitators, and synth-punk freaks, investing each new permutation with the same degree of blitzkrieg aggression.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
18 June 2026
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In January, a DHS official sent a memo to some federal immigration agents temporarily assigned to Minneapolis instructing them to collect personal information about protesters and agitators, including license plates, identifications and images, according to CNN reporting.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Analysts, including those at the ISP-M, say China has intermittently backed both Myanmar's ruling military, and the rebels that military is battling in the country's civil war, depending on its varying economic and security interests.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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The celebratory tours take visitors through the city's historic brick roads and along the bayfront, uncovering colonial stories of East Florida's loyalty to the British, imprisoned founding fathers and patriot rebels.—
Amy Galo,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The final whistle may have ended the match, but the celebration was just getting started for England supporters in North Texas.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
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The pending bill’s supporters say its changes are designed to address cases like that of Gilberto Guttierrez, a Los Angeles County man who has been accused of attacking his wife four times over the last 12 years.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Joshua’s contract also states White and Zuffa Boxing cannot be named promoters of the Fury bout, despite Al-Sheikh owning 60 per cent of the company.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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The Buffaloes are, as promised by promoters, a power conference foe for the Aztecs in the inaugural game honoring San Diego native Bill Walton, who passed away in May 2024.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Just a funny parasocial back-and-forth between some of the most passionate fans in sports and one of the best provocateurs the SEC has seen since Steve Spurrier.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
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Alliances with independents and provocateurs can bring younger crowds to the traditional news fold in an era when such viewership is not guaranteed.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But those standards can be easily stretched by demagogues, and a simple majority on the committee is enough to ban a party, though a panel of nine Supreme Court justices can overturn the decision on appeal.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Noun
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In 2022, French forces departed Mali as insurgents made incursions into the capital, Bamako.—
Kaitlyn Rabe,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
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The insurgents become known as the Osos (Bears).—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The surest sign bitcoin will never be money can be found in what excited its proponents on the way up, along with its critics on the way down.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Its proponents have turned it into a symbol of freedom and defiance.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rabble-rousers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rabble-rousers. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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