Meaning & use
demagogues
Last updated
Political leaders who seek support by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by reasoned argument.
See it in a sentence
Historians warn that economic crises often create fertile ground for demagogues.
The essay compares several demagogues who rose to power using fear-based rhetoric.
A note on using this word
Almost always used critically, implying manipulation of public emotion rather than honest leadership.
Words with a similar meaning
rabble-rousersagitators
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
statesmen
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