enemy of the people
Threat to society
Enemy of the people labels someone or something accused of acting against the public good.
The phrase has a long history as a political weapon—used by revolutionary tribunals, totalitarian regimes, and demagogues to delegitimize opponents.
In recent American politics, it has been applied to mainstream media by those claiming press coverage is biased or hostile: He called the newspaper an enemy of the people.
The label invites persecution by framing the target as deserving punishment rather than disagreement.
- fifth columnInternal subversives aiding outsiders
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- witch huntPersecuting supposed wrongdoers
- political dramaFiction about governance conflicts
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
Henrik Ibsen · bourgeois society · ethical conflict · dissent · public opinion · cancel culture · accountability · authoritarianism · censorship · societal critique · demagogue · betrayal · dramatic irony · manipulation · moral courage · individualism · show trial · thought crime
- propagandapropaganda, brainwashing, disinformation, misinformation, indoctrination
- Trumpismsfake news, bigly, tremendous, huge, MAGA
- Soviet Lawcriminal code, penal code, procurator, prosecutor, political crime
enemy of the peoplepatriot
Devoted country supporter
man of the people · woman of the people · national hero · voice of the people · comrade
enemy of the peoplepublic servant
Government worker serving citizens
benefactor · voice of the people · liberator · reformer · freedom fighter
enemy of the peoplehero
One admired for courage
savior · national hero · saint · martyr · national treasure