demagoguery
Exploiting popular prejudices
Demagoguery is the practice of appealing to people's emotions, prejudices, and fears rather than their reason—typically to gain political power.
A demagogue makes inflammatory speeches, scapegoats minorities, and offers simple solutions to complex problems: His rally was pure demagoguery, blaming immigrants for every economic ill.
The word carries strong disapproval.
Formal eloquent discourse
- bombastPretentious hollow language
- grandiloquencePompous, extravagant language
- harangueAggressive lengthy scolding
- tiradeExtended angry speech
polemic · invective · speechifying · sloganeering · rabble-rousing · firebrand · agitator · incitement
Selfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- distortionTwisting from original state
scheming · cunning · flattery · duplicity · guile · subterfuge · machination · pandering
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
sophistry · propaganda · spin · misrepresentation · distortion · half-truth · prevarication · equivocation
Emotional response to threat
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- outrageFierce moral indignation
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
fury · indignation · contempt · hostility · anxiety · distrust · alienation · vitriol
Advocate for ordinary citizens
- rabble-rouserOne who stirs dissent
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- anti-elitismDistrust of privileged classes
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
xenophobia · nativism · majoritarianism · factionalism · outsider · establishment · elite · oligarchy
Powerful lifter or despot
- autocratSole wielder of power
- dictatorRuler with total control
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
totalitarianism · fascism · one-party · illiberalism · purge · crackdown · suppression · censorship
oratory
Formal eloquent discourse
- bombastPretentious hollow language
- grandiloquencePompous, extravagant language
- harangueAggressive lengthy scolding
tirade · polemic · invective · speechifying · sloganeering · rabble-rousing · firebrand · agitator · incitement · provocation
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
distortion · scheming · cunning · flattery · duplicity · guile · subterfuge · machination · pandering · gaslighting
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- lieDeliberate falsehood
obfuscation · sophistry · propaganda · spin · misrepresentation · distortion · half-truth · prevarication · equivocation · fallacy
fear
Emotional response to threat
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- outrageFierce moral indignation
hatred · fury · indignation · contempt · hostility · anxiety · distrust · alienation · vitriol · enmity
populist
Advocate for ordinary citizens
- rabble-rouserOne who stirs dissent
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- anti-elitismDistrust of privileged classes
nationalism · xenophobia · nativism · majoritarianism · factionalism · outsider · establishment · elite · oligarchy · plutocracy
strongman
Powerful lifter or despot
despotism · totalitarianism · fascism · one-party · illiberalism · purge · crackdown · suppression · censorship · caudillo
- rhetoricrhetoric, persuasion, oratory, argumentation, debate
- emotional rhetoricpathos, emotional appeal, appeals to emotion, loaded language, loaded words
- fanaticismfanaticism, zealotry, zealot, fanatic, extremism
- manipulation tacticsgaslighting, guilt trip, guilt-tripping, guilt tripping, emotional blackmail
- political rhetoricstump speech, talking point, slogan, soundbite, keynote
- political tacticscampaigning, gerrymandering, filibuster, campaigns, voter suppression
demagogueryrational discourse
Logic-based exchange of views
civil discourse · dialectic · Socratic dialogue · academic discourse · Socratic method
demagoguerystatesmanship
Skillful government leadership
public service · civic responsibility · servant leadership · consensus-building · diplomacy
demagogueryintellectual honesty
Commitment to truth over ego
fair-mindedness · candor · objectivity · balanced reporting · sincerity