demagogue
noun
a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.
demagogues
-
pluralof demagogue.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Egged on by demagogues, Thucydides narrates, Athens embarked on a war of choice—the Sicilian expedition, the disastrous failure of which contributed to Athens’s eventual defeat in the Peloponnesian War.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
He said the corporation was "the best defence of truth and trust against the lies of dictators and demagogues".
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2025
Demonization and dehumanization are tried and true tactics of demagogues in every era.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2025
His book considers many of the “futurologists” who’ve held sway in the United States, including demagogues like Billy Sunday, utopian dreamers like Buckminster Fuller and sci-fi seers like Octavia E. Butler.
From New York Times ● Nov. 27, 2024
Atticus Finch was right when he said the only good the University did Henry was let him make friends with Alabama’s future politicians, demagogues, and statesmen.
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
