as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
the journalist was known as a gadfly for exposing hypocrisy in politics
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gadfly
Meenakshi Ahamed, the author of a forthcoming book on Indian Americans, notes that many prominent figures—Indra Nooyi, the former C.E.O. of PepsiCo; Vivek Ramaswamy, the conservative gadfly—have Brahman heritage.
—
Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
In Troy, a newcomer – an outspoken gadfly in city meetings – narrowly lost his bid for a City Council seat.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 7 Aug. 2024
In this and other accounts of the conspiracy candidate and gadfly candidate, the picture that emerges is that of a consummate opportunist who wants to turn his Uncle Jack’s famous words on their head; what, RFK Jr. asks, can this country do for him?
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2024
Political tumult in Arizona opened a path for a perennial election gadfly with anti-government leanings to win the governor’s race in 1986.
—Amanda Luberto, The Arizona Republic, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gadfly 
Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
In Troy, a newcomer – an outspoken gadfly in city meetings – narrowly lost his bid for a City Council seat.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 7 Aug. 2024
In this and other accounts of the conspiracy candidate and gadfly candidate, the picture that emerges is that of a consummate opportunist who wants to turn his Uncle Jack’s famous words on their head; what, RFK Jr. asks, can this country do for him?
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2024
Political tumult in Arizona opened a path for a perennial election gadfly with anti-government leanings to win the governor’s race in 1986.
—Amanda Luberto, The Arizona Republic, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gadfly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadfly
Noun
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With no power to fend off poultry farms, neighbors live with stench and nuisances North Carolina keeps poultry farm locations secret.—
Gavin Off,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2025
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Like with skateboarding, Kemp says, many leaders saw stickball as a nuisance that disrupted commerce.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Trash has stopped being collected consistently and has piled up, attracting pests and rodents, and creating a safety and health hazard.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Jan. 2025
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Such environmental factors may render one population more resilient in some way than another, and who knows which stash may prove to best withstand new climate stressors, or pests and diseases?—
Margaret Roach,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Zverev trudged to his bench, shoulders sagging, and dropped his racket on an equipment bag, a gesture that conveyed annoyance more than anger.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2025
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Share [Findings] The nocturnal heart rate of young men can be predicted by their female partners’ daytime feelings of intimacy or annoyance.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper's Magazine,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near gadfly
Cite this Entry
“Gadfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadfly. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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