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demagog - 4 dictionary results

dem⋅a⋅gogue

  [dem-uh-gog, -gawg] noun, verb, -gogued, -gogu⋅ing.
Use demagog in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person, esp. an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.
2. (in ancient times) a leader of the people.
–verb (used with object)
3. to treat or manipulate (a political issue) in the manner of a demagogue; obscure or distort with emotionalism, prejudice, etc.
–verb (used without object)
4. to speak or act like a demagogue.
Also, dem⋅a⋅gog.

Origin:
1640–50; < Gk dēmagōgós a leader of the people, popular leader, equiv. to dêm(os) people + agōgós leading, guiding; see -agogue
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To demagog
dem·a·gog   (děm'ə-gôg', -gŏg')   
n.   & v.
Variant of demagogue.
dem·a·gogue also dem·a·gog   (děm'ə-gôg', -gŏg')   
n.  
  1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
  2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
tr.v.   dem·a·gogued also dem·a·goged, dem·a·gogu·ing also dem·a·go·ging, dem·a·gogues also dem·a·gogs
Usage Problem To speak about (an issue, for example) in the manner of a demagogue.

[Greek dēmagōgos, popular leader : dēmos, people; see dā- in Indo-European roots + agōgos, leading (from agein, to lead; see ag- in Indo-European roots).]
Usage Note: Among the nouns that the Usage Panel is loath to see used as a verb is demagogue, meaning "to speak about something in the manner of a demagogue." Ninety-four percent reject it in the sentence The President will demagogue Medicare, unwilling to acknowledge that fundamental reforms need to be made. Resistance to the use of traditional nouns as verbs is sometimes strong, especially when the novel usages are associated with business or bureaucratic jargon.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Demagog

Dem"a*gog\ (?; 115), n. Demagogue.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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