gadflies
- plural of gadfly.
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 Legislature was coming after the gadflies like Gilbert.
From Salon • Aug. 17, 2025
And why is the work of maintaining them left to civic gadflies, even after two consecutive New York mayors have pledged to tackle the problem?
From Slate • Apr. 25, 2023
Most of the seats during the Anaheim council meeting I attended did end up getting filled — but it was the usual assortment of lobbyists, gadflies, local activists, and happy, mysterious men in sharp suits.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2022
He identified six tactics, the first five being “doubt the science,” “question scientists’ motives and integrity,” “magnify disagreements among scientists and cite gadflies as authorities,” “exaggerate potential harm” and “appeal to personal freedom.”
From New York Times • Jul. 14, 2021
On May 1 the President, tortured by the political gadflies in Washington, and suffering painfully from the weariness of hope so long deferred, telegraphed: "Is anything to be done?"
From Abraham Lincoln, Volume II by Morse, John T. (John Torrey)
