Demagogue

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Demagogue \Dem"a*gogue\ (?; 115), n. [Gr. dhmagwgo`s a popular
     leader; commonly in a bad sense, a leader of the mob; dh^mos
     the people + 'agwgo`s leading, fr. 'a`gein to lead; akin to
     E. act: cf. F. d['e]magogue.]
     A leader of the rabble; one who attempts to control the
     multitude by specious or deceitful arts; an unprincipled and


     factious mob orator or political leader.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  demagogue
       n : an orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his
           audience [syn: {demagog}, {rabble-rouser}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  56 Moby Thesaurus words for "demagogue":
     agent provocateur, agitator, agitprop, catalyst, debate, debater,
     declaim, declaimer, elocute, exciter, firebrand, fomenter,
     harangue, haranguer, hold forth, hothead, incendiary, inciter,
     inflamer, instigator, jawsmith, mischief-maker, mouth, orate,
     out-herod Herod, panelist, perorate, provocateur, provoker,
     public speaker, rabble-rouse, rabble-rouser, rant, ranter, read,
     recite, ringleader, rodomontade, rouser, seditionary, seditionist,
     speaker, speecher, speechifier, speechmaker, spiel, spieler,
     spokesman, spokeswoman, spout, spouter, talker, troublemaker,
     tub-thump, tub-thumper, urger