demagogue (redirected from demagogues)

dem·a·gogue also dem·a·gog  (dm-gôg, -gg)

n.

1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.

2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.

tr.v. dem·a·gogued also dem·a·goged, dem·a·gogu·ing also dem·a·go·ging, dem·a·gogues also dem·a·goges

Usage Problem To speak about (an issue, for example) in the manner of a demagogue.

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[Greek dmaggos, popular leader : dmos, people; see d- in Indo-European roots + aggos, leading (from agein, to lead; see ag- in Indo-European roots).]

Usage Note: Among the nouns that the Usage Panel is loath to see used as a verb is demagogue, meaning "to speak about something in the manner of a demagogue." Ninety-four percent reject it in the sentence The President will demagogue Medicare, unwilling to acknowledge that fundamental reforms need to be made. Resistance to the use of traditional nouns as verbs is sometimes strong, especially when the novel usages are associated with business or bureaucratic jargon.

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demagogue or US sometimes demagog

Noun

a political agitator who attempts to win support by appealing to the prejudice and passions of the mob [Greek dēmagōgos people's leader]

demagogic adj
demagogy n

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

demagogue - a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices demagog, rabble-rouser pol, political leader, politico, politician - a person active in party politics

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demagogue

noun agitator, firebrand, haranguer, rabble-rouser, soapbox orator

Translations

demagogue [ˈdɛməgɔg] n → démagogue m/f

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demagogue [ˈdɛməgɔg] n → Demagoge m, Demagogin f

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demagogue [ˈdɛməgɔg] n → demagogo