as in rebel
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
rabble-rousers inciting hungry people in breadlines to demand social justice
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Recent Examples of rabble-rouser
In the week leading up to the 2001 Daytona 500, Hinton was portrayed as a rabble-rouser and a muckraker by NASCAR and its fans.
—
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
This year, the Super Bowl booked Compton firebrand Kendrick Lamar, offering a former award-show rabble-rouser an audience with President Trump in attendance.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Still, with Trump’s ascension to the presidency, the DEI backlash has graduated from a social media campaign by a handful of rabble-rousers to the official policy of the federal government.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Martin Odegaard is the most avid rabble-rouser, using the small momentum swings of pressing the opposition into kicking the ball out or going close with a chance as an opportunity to lift the intensity.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Several rabble-rousers who were a thorn in the leadership’s side are leaving the House, including Reps. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and Bob Good (R-Va.).
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024
Yes, but: Ocasio-Cortez may continue to confront the ghosts of her past as one of Democrats' foremost left-wing rabble-rousers.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
The other person in the room is fellow troubadour and rabble-rouser Pete Seeger.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Increasingly, Europe’s centrist figureheads are dropping their once-high-minded rhetoric on irregular migration, reaching instead for positions that were previously the preserve of the continent’s populist rabble-rousers.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
This year, the Super Bowl booked Compton firebrand Kendrick Lamar, offering a former award-show rabble-rouser an audience with President Trump in attendance.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Still, with Trump’s ascension to the presidency, the DEI backlash has graduated from a social media campaign by a handful of rabble-rousers to the official policy of the federal government.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Martin Odegaard is the most avid rabble-rouser, using the small momentum swings of pressing the opposition into kicking the ball out or going close with a chance as an opportunity to lift the intensity.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Several rabble-rousers who were a thorn in the leadership’s side are leaving the House, including Reps. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and Bob Good (R-Va.).
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024
Yes, but: Ocasio-Cortez may continue to confront the ghosts of her past as one of Democrats' foremost left-wing rabble-rousers.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
The other person in the room is fellow troubadour and rabble-rouser Pete Seeger.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Increasingly, Europe’s centrist figureheads are dropping their once-high-minded rhetoric on irregular migration, reaching instead for positions that were previously the preserve of the continent’s populist rabble-rousers.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rabble-rouser
Noun
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The coming-of-age film tells the story of Ren (Bacon), a teen rebel who moves to a small Southern town that has outlawed dancing for religious reasons.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
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Besides, the Caribbean strife was thwarting trade and endangering American lives and livelihoods in the region. McKinley, sympathetic toward the rebels but not wanting war with Spain, dispatched a prominent Illinois trial lawyer to Cuba to study the situation and report back.—
Robert W. Merry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the 6th District, Trump is backing state Sen. Randy Fine, a conservative firebrand known for his support of Israel and his efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights.—
Kate Payne,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Jan. 2025
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Despite his resignation from Congress, the House Ethics Committee released a report on the panel’s roughly three-and-a-half-year investigation into the firebrand Florida Republican.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Following the Barnard students’ expulsion, more than 50 anti-Israel agitators took over a building on Barnard’s campus, echoing last year’s takeover of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University.—
Rachel Wolf,
Fox News,
4 Mar. 2025
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These washers use a gentle tumbling action instead of the harsher action of a center agitator in a top-loading washer.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Like other concert promoters and talent buyers, Slusher does a lot of research before booking a band or solo artist.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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Jamaican promoters Sunnation have perfected the art of the high-end breakfast party in both Trinidad and Jamaica, with their Jamaica fete ensconced as the place to see-and-be-seen at Jamaica Carnival each April.—
Baz Dreisinger,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That’s classically how a demagogue works and how a demagogue becomes a tyrant.—
Sean Illing,
Vox,
22 Feb. 2025
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Many Latines who are conservative in the U.S. come from countries where similar right-wing demagogues were elected in the last decade.—
Nicole Froio,
refinery29.com,
6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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There’s much misinformation about who actually pays tariffs Trump is a proponent of tariffs, insisting that they are paid for by foreign countries.—
Paul Wiseman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
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Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, is also a staunch free speech proponent.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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At the kick-off the veteran punk provocateurs’ Australian tour on Saturday (March 1) at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Armstrong once again switched up the lyrics to one of the band’s songs to send a unequivocal, harsh message to the current American administration.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
5 Mar. 2025
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With Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei, Seattle Art Museum presents the provocateur’s largest-ever U.S. exhibition, gathering more than 130 works created over his 40-year career.—
Ellen Carpenter,
AFAR Media,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On Wednesday, Lyle Menendez reacted to the news to his supporters and family in a Facebook post.—
Kevin Dolak,
The Hollywood Reporter,
4 Mar. 2025
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Cuomo’s allies are forming a super PAC to boost his run, as have supporters of others in the past.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to rabble-rouser
Cite this Entry
“Rabble-rouser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rabble-rouser. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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