Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Characteristic of or resembling a demagogue: Pertaining to the methods, rhetoric, or behavior of a demagogue; designed to appeal to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people in a manipulative or deceptive way, rather than to rational argument.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The politician's demagogic rhetoric exploited public fears.
  • Historians analyzed the demagogic techniques used to gain popular support.
  • The leader's appeal was more demagogic than substantive.

Advanced Usage

• "demagogic populism": A political approach that combines populist themes with demagogic methods.
  • The movement was criticized for its demagogic populism, which simplified complex issues.
• "demagogic appeal": The attractive but manipulative quality of demagogic speech or action.
  • The candidate's demagogic appeal was powerful but dangerous.

Variants and Related Words

• Demagogue (n): A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
  • He was accused of being a demagogue who stirred up hatred.
• Demagoguery (n): The activity or methods of a demagogue; demagogic rhetoric or actions.
  • The speech was a masterpiece of demagoguery.
• Demagogical (adj): A less common variant of "demagogic," with the same meaning.
  • The demagogical style of the address was evident.

Synonyms

• Rabble-rousing: Intended to stir up the common people, especially to violence, by appealing to emotion.
• Populist (in a pejorative sense): Relating to a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups, often through oversimplification.
• Inflammatory: Arousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings.

Antonyms

• Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
• Principled: Acting in accordance with morality and showing recognition of right and wrong.
• Statesmanlike: Having the qualities of a statesman, such as wisdom, fairness, and diplomatic skill.

Adjective

1. characteristic of or resembling a demagogue
   • demagogic speeches