What does the word "demagogue" mean?
dem•a•gogue or dem•a•gog (ˈdɛm əˌgɒg, -ˌgɔg) n., v. -gogued, -gogu•ing. n. 1. a person, esp. a political leader, who gains power by arousing people's emotions and prejudices. 2. (in ancient times) a leader of the people. v.i. 3. to speak or act like a demagogue. [1640–50; < Greek dēmagōgós = dêm (os) people + agōgós guiding]
What is the definition of a demagogue?
Demagogues are leaders who use rhetorical appeals, particularly pathos, to influence a specific audience. The word started as a neutral term in ancient Greece to describe leaders like Cleon, but it developed a negative connotation, especially when it is used in modern political contexts.
What does demagogo mean?
demagogo. word used in the Dominican Republic concerning to a person who is jealous of another and usually hates the success of another and try to destroy anything on their back. " ese tipo es un demagogo". "that guy is a hater". "muerte pa' lo demagogo".
What is another word for demagogue?
Synonyms for demagogue include firebrand, agitator, incendiary, instigator, inciter, fomenter, troublemaker, provocateur, exciter and kindler. Find more similar words ...
What is a demagogue easy definition?
1 : a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power. 2 : a leader championing the cause of the common people in ancient times. demagogue. verb. variants: or less commonly demagog.
What is the definition of a demagogue quizlet?
Demagogue. A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires be prejudices.
What is another word for a demagogue?
In this page you can discover 29 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for demagogue, like: agitator, ochlocrat, rabble-rouser, demagogism, fomenter, hothead, fascist, radical, troublemaker, rabblerousing and bigot.
How do you use the word demagogue?
Demagogue sentence example Again, his adversaries used to call him a dangerous demagogue. But at least he's our incoherent, ranting demagogue. He was an enthusiastic, but a fickle and ambitious demagogue, and he achieved a better reputation as a writer.
What is the opposite of demagogue?
Opposite of a person who intentionally instigates or incites trouble or mischief. peacemaker. placater. conciliator. pacifist.
How do you use demagoguery in a sentence?
They feel that they would be doing a public service in offsetting the demagoguery and sensationalism of most of the popular press. He felt that he himself was right; yet he could not deny that "Josh's cheap demagoguery" sounded fine and true.
How do you pronounce demagogue?
0:230:43How to Pronounce Demagogue - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAre similar demagogue. And now you know like and subscribe if you found this video useful.MoreAre similar demagogue. And now you know like and subscribe if you found this video useful.
What part of speech is demagogue?
verb (used without object), dem·a·gogued, dem·a·gogu·ing.
Is Demogoggy a word?
Meaning of demagogy in English the action or fact of winning support by exciting the emotions of ordinary people rather than by having good or morally right ideas: A climate of fear makes people more susceptible to demagogy. He didn't hesitate to use demagogy to further his aims.
How do you use proliferate in a sentence?
Proliferate in a Sentence 🔉With the popularity of the Zumba craze, health clubs that feature this exercise class have begun to proliferate in most cities.After the monsoon rains, insects of all kinds begin to proliferate and you see people constantly swatting and slapping at the air.More items...
Which patient has the greatest percentage of body water quizlet?
Which patient has the greatest percentage of body water? Rationale: An infant has a total body water percentage of 74%, whereas a premature infant has an even higher percentage at 83%.
Which of the following is the least accurate means of taking body temperature?
Most electronic thermometers have a digital display that shows you the temperature reading. Rectal temperatures provide the most-accurate readings for infants, especially those 3 months or younger, as well as children up to age 3. Temperatures taken from the armpit are usually the least accurate.
Which of the following is an example of heat loss through convection?
Convection is the process of losing heat through the movement of air or water molecules across the skin. The use of a fan to cool off the body is one example of convection. The amount of heat loss from convection is dependent upon the airflow or in aquatic exercise, the water flow over the skin.
What does "demagogue" mean?
demagogue (n.) 1640s, "an unprincipled popular orator or leader; one who seeks to obtain political power by pandering to the prejudices, wishes, ignorance, and passions of the people or a part of them," ultimately from Greek dēmagōgos "popular leader," also "leader of the mob," from dēmos "people, common people" ...
What does "plebicola" mean in Latin?
A Latin word in a similar sense was plebicola "one who courts (literally 'cultivates') the common people," from plebs "the populace, the common people" + colere "to cultivate."
What does "demagogue" mean?
A demagogue, in the strict signification of the word, is a 'leader of the rabble'. — James Fenimore Cooper, "On Demagogues" (1838) The word demagogue, originally meaning a leader of the common people, was first coined in ancient Greece with no negative connotation, but eventually came to mean a troublesome kind of leader who occasionally arose in ...
Who were the demagogues?
Often considered the first demagogue, Cleon of Athens is remembered mainly for the brutality of his rule and his near destruction of Athenian democracy, resulting from his "common-man" appeal to disregard the moderate customs of the aristocratic elite. Modern demagogues include Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Huey Long, Father Coughlin, and Joseph McCarthy, all of whom built mass followings the same way that Cleon did: by exciting the passions of the mob against the moderate, thoughtful customs of the aristocratic elites of their times. All, ancient and modern, meet Cooper's four criteria above: claiming to represent the common people, inciting intense passions among them, exploiting those reactions to take power, and breaking or at least threatening established rules of political conduct, though each in different ways.
What are demagogic promises?
Another fundamental demagogic technique is making promises only for their emotional effect on audiences, without regard for how they might be accomplished or without intending to honor them once in office. Demagogues express these empty promises simply and theatrically, but remain extremely hazy about how they will achieve them because usually they are impossible. For example, Huey Long promised that if he were elected president, every family would have a home, an automobile, a radio, and $2,000 yearly. He was vague about how he would make that happen, but people still joined his Share-the-Wealth clubs. Another kind of empty demagogic promise is to make everyone wealthy or "solve all the problems". The Polish demagogue Stanisław Tymiński, running as an unknown "maverick" on the basis of his prior success as a businessman in Canada, promised "immediate prosperity"—exploiting the economic difficulties of laborers, especially miners and steelworkers. Tymiński forced a runoff in the 1990 presidential election, nearly defeating Lech Wałęsa.
Why do demagogues violate decorum?
Many demagogues violate standards of decorum outrageously, to show clearly that they are thumbing their noses at the established order and the genteel ways of the upper class, or simply because they enjoy the attention that it brings. The common people might find the demagogue disgusting, but the demagogue can use the upper class's contempt for him to show that he won't be shamed or intimidated by the powerful.
Why is Cleon considered a demagogue?
The Athenian leader Cleon is known as a notorious demagogue mainly because of three events described in the writings of Thucydides and Aristophanes.
How did the Demagogic Oratory help the demagogues?
The demagogues' charisma and emotional oratory many times enabled them to win elections despite opposition from the press. The news media informs voters, and often the information is damaging to demagogues. Demagogic oratory distracts, entertains, and enthralls, steering followers' attention away from the demagogue's usual history of lies, abuses of power, and broken promises. The advent of radio enabled many 20th-century demagogues' skill with the spoken word to drown out the written word of newspapers.
What is the difference between a statesman and a demagogue?
A real demagogue uses these tactics without restraint; a statesman, only to avert greater harm to the nation. In contrast to a demagogue, a statesman's ordinary rhetoric seeks "to calm rather than excite, to conciliate rather than divide, and to instruct rather than flatter.".
What does "demagogue" mean?
a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people. (in ancient times) a leader of the people. verb (used with object), dem·a·gogued, dem·a·gogu·ing. to treat or manipulate (a political issue) in the manner of a demagogue;
What is a demagogue?
A politician who seeks to win and hold office by appeals to mass prejudice. Demagogues often use lies and distortion. ( See Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin .) The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Why is the word "sinister" Latin?
The word "sinister" is Latin for "left," because left-handed people were often thought of as suspicious, evil, or demonic.
Do politicians see more upside in demagogue?
No wonder so many politicians see more upside in demagogue - ing the issue than dealing with it.
What is a Demagogue?
The Demagogue by Jose Clemente Orozco; the demagogue will do anything and say anything to get and keep attention.
Who was the most notorious demagogue in the Athenians?
The Athenians had to deal with their own share of demagogues. The most notorious was Cleon. According to the historian Thucydides, Cleon convinced the Athenians to murder all the men of Mytilene and sell the women and children into slavery after they revolted. It was only when they came to their senses the next day that around 1,000 rebels were executed and the rest of the city spared. Similarly, when the Athenians defeated a Spartan fleet and Sparta sued for peace, Cleon convinced the Athenians to reject peace. Finally, he accused the Athenian generals of cowardice when they took too long to conquer an island named Sphacteria. He even said that he, with no training and experience only as a leather tanner, could do it in twenty days.
Where did the word "demagogue" come from?
The word demagogue traces its roots back to the Ancient Greek term demagogos, which meant “populist leader” or “leader of the crowd” and was comprised of the root words demos, meaning “people,” and agogos, meaning “to lead” or “to guide.” Agogos comes from the Proto-Indo-European root ag-, which means “to push or cause to move” (which is really what leading is, when you think about it). Other words in modern English that developed from agogos, which include synagogue, pedagogue, and mystagogue, all imply a sense of leadership through wisdom and knowledge.
What is a demagogue?
Demagogue is a noun for a political or other public figure who tries to win support by resonating with the emotions, desires, fears, and other (frequently irrational) drives of human nature that guide voter behavior. Though a politician of any station or level of experience can be a demagogue, the word is usually used to describe one who chooses to make populist and emotional appeals because they lack experience. Thus, a political outsider or upstart who proposes outrageous (though popular) policies is more likely to be a demagogue than an established public servant with a long record of service. What all demagogues have in common, though, is their reliance on appealing to motivations and arguments other than logic to gain a following, particularly if they prey on peoples’ prejudices and biases or promise some tremendous boon to the public. While the claims of a demagogue are not necessarily deceitful, they are very often misleading and intended to manipulate people by indulging their innermost desires.
What is the progressive form of demagogue?
Demagoguing: The present progressive form of demagogue notes when irrational, popular arguments are currently being made. Demagoguing can also be employed as a noun, though it is far more common to use demagoguery for this purpose.
What is the difference between demagogy and demagoguery?
Demagogy: While also a noun, demagogy, unlike demagoguery, is more apt to describe the state or practice of habitually making populist appeals, while demagoguery specifically refers to the actual act of pandering.
When is a demagogue employed?
Demagogues: This form of demagogue is employed when a he or she is pandering to fellow citizens.
What is the adjective for a demagogue?
Demagogic: This adjective iteration of demagogue characterizes something or someone as exhibiting an appeal to gut impulses or biases.
When did demagogos come into English?
The Ancient Greek demagogos passed into the Middle French démagogue before arriving in English in its noun form in the mid-17 th century. The verb form, taken from the English noun, did not emerge until the 1960s in American English.
Etymology
The Italian term fascismo is derived from fascio, meaning 'bundle of sticks', ultimately from the Latin word fasces. This was the name given to political organizations in Italy known as fasci, groups similar to guilds or syndicates.
Definitions
Historians, political scientists, and other scholars have long debated the exact nature of fascism.
History
Georges Valois, founder of the first non-Italian fascist party Faisceau, claimed the roots of fascism stemmed from the late 18th century Jacobin movement, seeing in its totalitarian nature a foreshadowing of the fascist state.
Tenets
Robert O.
Criticism
Fascism has been widely criticized and condemned in modern times since the defeat of the Axis Powers in World War II.
Overview
A demagogue /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/ (from Greek δημαγωγός, a popular leader, a leader of a mob, from δῆμος, people, populace, the commons + ἀγωγός leading, leader) or rabble-rouser is a political leader in a democracy who gains popularity by arousing the common people against elites, especially through oratory that whips up the passions of crowds, appealing to emotion by scapegoating out-groups, e…
History and definition of the word
A demagogue, in the strict signification of the word, is a 'leader of the rabble'.— James Fenimore Cooper, "On Demagogues" (1838)
The word demagogue, originally meaning a leader of the common people, was first coined in ancient Greece with no negative connotation, but eventually came to mean a troublesome kind of leader who occasionally arose in Athenian democracy. Even though democracy gave power to th…
The enduring character of demagogues
In every age the vilest specimens of human nature are to be found among demagogues.— Thomas Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II (1849)
Demagogues have arisen in democracies from Athens to the present day. Though most demagogues have unique, colorful personalities, their psychological tactics have remained the same throughout history (see below). Often considered the first demagogue, Cleon of Athens is r…
Methods
Below are described a number of methods by which demagogues have manipulated and incited crowds throughout history. Not all demagogues use all of these methods, and no two demagogues use exactly the same methods to gain popularity and loyalty. Even ordinary politicians use some of these techniques from time to time; a politician who failed to stir emotions at all would have little hope of being elected. What these techniques have in common, …
Demagogues in power
The shortest way to ruin a country is to give power to demagogues.— Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Antiquities of Rome, VI (20 BC)
Once elected to executive office, most demagogues have moved quickly to expand their power, both de jure and de facto: by getting legislation passed to officially expand their authority, and by building up networks of corruption and informal pressure to ensure that their dictates are follow…
Famous historical demagogues
The Athenian leader Cleon is known as a notorious demagogue mainly because of three events described in the writings of Thucydides and Aristophanes.
First, after the failed revolt by the city of Mytilene, Cleon persuaded the Athenians to slaughter not just the Mytilenean prisoners, but every man in the city, and to sell their wives and children as slaves. The Athenians rescinded th…
See also
• Authoritarianism
• Big lie
• Charismatic authority
• Cleophon
• Cult of personality
Further reading
• Berend, Iván T. (2020). A Century of Populist Demagogues. Budapest; New York: Central European University Press. ISBN 978-9633863343. OCLC 1121286642. Eighteen European Portraits, 1918–2018
• Roberts-Miller, Patricia (2017). Demagoguery and Democracy. The Experiment. ISBN 978-1615194087. OCLC 999728644.