Demagogue
A political leader who seeks power by appealing to the desires, fears, and prejudices of the public rather than by rational argument or evidence.
nounDemagogue
A political leader who seeks power by appealing to the desires, fears, and prejudices of the public rather than by rational argument or evidence.
nounImagine This
Picture a charismatic street speaker who loudly blames a scapegoat for all the community's problems, waving a flag and stirring up fear, while offering simple, sensational promises instead of evidence-based solutions.
Sounds Like
DEM-uh-GOG
Looks Like
Looks similar to words with the demo- prefix (people), such as democracy or demographic, though its meaning is about leadership through emotion rather than governance.
Remember This
Etymology comes from Greek demos (people) + agogos (leader). Historically, demagogues have wielded rhetoric to manipulate large crowds rather than lead with principled policy.
Other Forms
Connect With
rabble-rouser, firebrand, demagoguery, propaganda, rhetoric, populism
Note
This term carries a strong negative connotation. Remember that to demagogue is to behave as a demagogue; the noun refers to the person, while the verb form (to demagogue) is less common but correct.
Study Deeper
- The demagogue rose to power by blaming outsiders for the city's problems.
- Instead of presenting facts, the demagogue relied on fear and inflammatory rhetoric to sway voters.
From Greek demos (people) and agogos (leader), via Latin demagogus; originally meant a leader who guided the people, but now carries a negative sense of manipulating public opinion.
DEMO + AGOGUE: A demagogue is a leader of the people who makes the crowd agog (excited and highly emotional) rather than thinking critically.
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nounThe ability to deal with people and delicate situations in a sensitive, considerate, and diplomatic way; choosing words and actions carefully to avoid offense.
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nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
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nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
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nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).