demagogs
Exploiters of fear
Demagogs is a less common spelling of demagogues—political leaders who gain power by appealing to popular emotions and prejudices rather than rational argument.
The demagog exploits fears and resentments, offering simple solutions to complex problems: The demagogs blamed immigrants for every economic ill.
The spelling without the -ue ending is standard in some style guides but looks odd to many readers.
Formal eloquent discourse
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- sloganeeringReliance on pithy phrases
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
pandering · inflammatory · divisive · bombast · harangue · tirade · diatribe · polemic
Advocate for ordinary citizens
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- rabble-rouserOne who stirs dissent
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
- despotRuler with absolute power
autocrat · dictator · tyrant · strongman · nationalist · extremist · fascist · authoritarian
Unfairly assigning fault to innocents
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
victimhood · nostalgia · promise · blame · enemy · crisis · corruption · elite
oratory
Formal eloquent discourse
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- sloganeeringReliance on pithy phrases
grandstanding · pandering · inflammatory · divisive · bombast · harangue · tirade · diatribe · polemic · speechifying
populist
Advocate for ordinary citizens
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- rabble-rouserOne who stirs dissent
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
despot · autocrat · dictator · tyrant · strongman · nationalist · extremist · fascist · authoritarian · opportunist
scapegoating
Unfairly assigning fault to innocents
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
grievance · victimhood · nostalgia · promise · blame · enemy · crisis · corruption · elite · establishment
McCarthy
Cold War inquisitor
tribune · plebeian · mob · assembly · forum · agora · Senate · democracy · republic · tyranny
demagogsstatesmen
Experienced government leaders
statesman · public servants · honest brokers · technocrats · elder statesmen
demagogstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
educators · public intellectuals · scholars · journalists · fact-checkers
demagogstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
educators · reasoners · deliberators · honest brokers · bridge-builders
demagogue, demagogic, demagogy, demagogues, demagogued, demagoguing