demagogue
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for demagogue, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A political leader who wins support by stirring up popular fears, resentments and prejudices rather than by reasoned argument.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use demagogue
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dangerous demagogue
populist demagogue
the rise of a demagogue
Neutral in register but strongly critical in force; common in political commentary and history.
Etymology
From Greek dēmagōgos 'leader of the people', from dēmos 'people' and agōgos 'leading'.
Full origin of demagogue →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a demagogue and a populist?
A populist frames politics as the ordinary people against a self-serving elite, which need not involve dishonesty. A demagogue is defined by method rather than message: whipping up fear, anger and prejudice, and making promises they know cannot be kept. Demagogue is always an insult; populist is not necessarily.
How is demagogue pronounced and spelt?
It is said DEM-uh-gog. The usual spelling ends in -gogue; the shortened American spelling demagog exists but is rare.
Is demagogue always negative?
In modern English, yes. In ancient Athens the word could simply mean a leader of the common people, but that neutral sense has not survived.
