Meaning & use
demagogue
A political leader who gains power by appealing to popular emotions and prejudices rather than reason.
See it in a sentence
Historians warned that the demagogue's rhetoric relied on fear rather than facts.
Critics accused the candidate of acting like a demagogue by exaggerating threats to stir up anger.
A note on using this word
Demagogue is almost always used critically, implying manipulation of the public rather than honest leadership.
Words with a similar meaning
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Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
statesman
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