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Synonyms

demagogue

American  
[dem-uh-gog, -gawg] / ˈdɛm əˌgɒg, -ˌgɔg /
Or demagog

noun

  1. a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.

  2. (in ancient times) a leader of the people.

verb (used with object)

demagogued, demagoguing

  1. to treat or manipulate (a political issue) in the manner of a demagogue; obscure or distort with emotionalism, prejudice, etc.

verb (used without object)

demagogued, demagoguing

  1. to speak or act like a demagogue.

demagogue British  
/ ˈdɛməˌɡɒɡ /

noun

  1. a political agitator who appeals with crude oratory to the prejudice and passions of the mob

  2. (esp in the ancient world) any popular political leader or orator

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
demagogue Cultural  

  1. A politician who seeks to win and hold office by appeals to mass prejudice. Demagogues often use lies and distortion. (See Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.)

Etymology

Origin of demagogue

1640–50; < Greek dēmagōgós a leader of the people, popular leader, equivalent to dêm ( os ) people + agōgós leading, guiding; -agogue

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The power struggles within a contentious Indian family feed the rise of a demagogue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

But he also turned on his vice-president, reposting a comment on X in which she was labelled a "traitor, a demagogue and stupid in economic terms".

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

“Parade,” which delves into antisemitism, systemic bias in our judicial system and the power of a wily demagogue to stoke atavistic hatred for self-gain, has a disconcerting timeliness.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2025

Washington, who transitioned seamlessly from general to president and back to private citizen, could easily imagine a demagogue giving in to the perilous temptation to use martial power as a political cudgel.

From Slate • Feb. 17, 2025

He was a belated knight-errant with a decided touch of the demagogue.

From The South American Republics Part I of II by Dawson, Thomas C.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.