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  1. demagogue love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
  2. n. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
  3. v. Usage Problem To speak about (an issue, for example) in the manner of a demagogue.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. Historically, a leader of the people; a person who sways the people by oratory or persuasion.
  2. n. An unprincipled popular orator or leader; one who endeavors to curry favor with the people or some particular portion of them by pandering to their prejudices or wishes, or by playing on their ignorance or passions; specifically, an unprincipled political agitator; one who seeks to obtain political power or the furtherance of some sinister purpose by pandering to the ignorance or prejudice of the populace.

Wiktionary

  1. n. historical A leader of the people.
  2. n. pejorative An orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience.
  3. v. To speak or act in the manner of a demagogue; to speak about (an issue) in the manner of a demagogue.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. 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.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices

Etymologies

  1. From Ancient Greek δημαγωγός (demagogos, "popular leader, mob leader"), from δῆμος (demos, "people") + ἀγωγός (agogos, "guide"). (Wiktionary)
  2. Greek dēmagōgos, popular leader : dēmos, people; see dā- in Indo-European roots + agōgos, leading (from agein, to lead; see ag- in Indo-European roots). (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

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  • bilby Life of the Party. Feb 14, 2010

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‘demagogue’ has been looked up 5279 times, loved by 11 people, added to 111 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 14.