gadfly
4
8.4
- noun
- /ˈɡædˌflaɪ/
:
mosca de los establos
- Victoria Bekiempis is a Brooklyn-based gadfly whose love of words is matched only by her love of bourbon and kitties.
- Democracy's gadfly
He had his thing, but he was there as a gadfly.
- He had his thing, but he was there as a gadfly.
- You know, he was the the original gadfly, the original person who had criticized people in society and didn't, you know, spare any targets.
- Grifters and gadflies were very often the earliest people on the coronavirus.
Examples
-
The few gadflies who had consistently championed alternative theories suddenly found popularity.
Academic text (1996) -
And one of these journalists proved to be a nuisance, a gadfly.
Fiction book (1991) -
Sometimes being a gadfly is all a man or woman can do; just ask Socrates.
Blog text (33) -
You know, he was the the original gadfly, the original person who had criticized people in society and didn't, you know, spare any targets.
-
The naysayers and the gadflies have done an outstanding job of chasing away prior buyers.
Blog text (19) -
Remarkably, Fiedler prevailed, but the controversy fixed him forever in the local imagination as the university's designated gadfly.
Academic text (2012) -
As a noted gadfly, she frequently challenged the plans of local officials during town meetings.
-
His role as a gadfly in the Senate involved constantly questioning the administration's policies.
-
For decades, the journalist was known as a gadfly, always stirring controversy with his critical articles.
Synonyms
27
2.1
A person who keeps bothering others
20
6.3
A person who says an opposite or unpopular opinion to start a discussion
3
8.6
A person or thing that keeps annoying others
3
8.1
A person who argues loudly about small unimportant things
2
9.5
A person who often annoys or causes trouble
1
7.8
A person who speaks loudly and angrily and complains a lot
1
6.5
A person who annoys others by repeating small actions
1
7.5
A person who starts trouble on purpose to make others react
1
5.3
A person who often complains about small things
1
8.6
A person who attacks someone strongly in speech or writing
1
8.8
A person who speaks angrily and likes to start political arguments
1
9.9
A person who often argues about public or political issues
1
7.5
A person who annoys others by doing small things over and over
1
9.1
A person who often complains in an annoying way
A person who keeps asking questions to annoy someone and will not stop
A person who annoys others by asking too many questions or interrupting them
A person who bothers others by teasing and making fun
A person who often criticizes or complains about other people
A person who scolds others strongly
A person who criticizes someone strongly for their behavior
A person who says things in a direct, often rude way and does not listen
A person who often argues angrily with others
A person who on purpose makes others start trouble or fight
A person who criticizes others harshly and lowers their morale
A person who keeps complaining or criticizing in an annoying way
A person who often tells others they are wrong in an annoying way
A person who makes small problems into big arguments
Antonyms
Compounds
How Annoying
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Gadfly comes from the old word gad meaning a 'goad' or 'pointed stick' and the word fly. A helpful way to remember the modern sense is to think of a gadfly as someone who 'prods' or annoys others to make them think or change.