Meaning & use
demagogic
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Meaning
adjectivecomparabledisapprovingformal
Using emotional appeals and false claims to win support from ordinary people, like a demagogue.
Grammar: Describes a person, speech, or method; can be comparative: more demagogic.
Patterns
- a demagogic leader
- demagogic rhetoric
- demagogic tactics
The senator's demagogic speeches stirred up anger against immigrants.
Critics called the campaign demagogic because it relied on fear rather than facts.
His demagogic style won him a loyal following but alienated moderates.
Word forms
| comparative | more demagogic |
|---|---|
| superlative | most demagogic |
Common combinations
- demagogic rhetoric
- The party's demagogic rhetoric appealed to voters' prejudices.
- demagogic leader
- A demagogic leader can manipulate public opinion.
- demagogic tactics
- They accused him of using demagogic tactics to avoid debate.
- demagogic appeal
- His demagogic appeal to nationalism worried neighboring countries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- populist
- Populist can be neutral or positive, focusing on ordinary people; demagogic is always negative and implies manipulation.
- rabble-rousing
- Rabble-rousing is more informal and emphasizes stirring up a crowd; demagogic is more formal and political.
- inflammatory
- Inflammatory means likely to provoke anger, but it doesn't necessarily involve seeking political power like demagogic does.
Opposites
Word family
- demagogue noun
- A political leader who uses emotional appeals and false claims.
- demagoguery noun
- The methods or behavior of a demagogue.
Commonly confused: demagogic or demographic?
demagogic vs demographic
Demographic relates to population statistics; demagogic relates to manipulative political speech. They sound somewhat similar but are unrelated.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'demagogic' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Demagogic describes a manipulative political style that stirs emotions; option B fits that meaning. Option A confuses it with 'demographic', and options C and D use it in contexts unrelated to politics or emotional manipulation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “demagogic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.