demagogue
nounGraduateELO 1,550GRECAT
DEFINITION
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices
WEBSTER'S 1913
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.
ETYMOLOGY
Greek: dēmos (the people) + agōgos (leader)
SYNONYMS
IN LITERATURE
“A silly pretty puss of a girl would not have excited it, nor an avowed blood-relative of the demagogue.”
— George Meredith, Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith
IN USE
“The opposition was appalled, with the Richmond Whig newspaper referring to him as "the vilest radical and most unscrupulous demagogue in the Union".”
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