Demagog (Noun)
Meaning
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The charismatic politician was accused of being a demagog for his inflammatory rhetoric and scapegoating of minority groups.
- During his election campaign, the incumbent president's opponents claimed he was a demagog, stirring up fears and anxieties among voters to maintain his power.
- As a demagog, the radical leader was able to rouse crowds with simplistic, us-versus-them slogans that played on people's deep-seated prejudices.
- Critics characterized the authoritarian ruler as a classic demagog, using divisive rhetoric and nationalist sentiment to justify his repressive policies.
- Despite allegations that he was a demagog pitting urbanites against rural residents, the politician remained popular among many working-class voters who felt disenfranchised.