GADFLY Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

gadfly

noun

ˈgad-ˌflī

Definition of gadfly

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of gadfly Their false claims about getting financially fleeced by Uncle Sam were fueled by a rather sophisticated, albeit deceitful and shameful lobbying campaign, sponsored by greedy gadflies out to make a quick buck. — Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026 Among those present at the annual David Horowitz Freedom Center retreat in 2017 was a young Candace Owens, then striving to make her mark as a black conservative gadfly on social media. — Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 As horse and rider approached the Olympian gates, Zeus sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, who bolted and threw his rider. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Nov. 2025 The truth teller/journalist/gadfly/detective set out to uncover the truth about the death of a member of a powerful Tulsa political family but must acknowledge how much harm his investigation has caused. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gadfly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gadfly

Noun

Earlier in August, A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to contribute $567 million to an abatement fund as part of a public nuisance case centering on child-safety allegations.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
In March, a New Mexico jury and judge fined Meta over $900 million after the state’s attorney general argued that its platforms created a public nuisance.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of nuisance

Noun

In one of the findings, bat houses — artificial roosts in urban environments, similar to nest boxes for birds — were doing their job helping to suppress pests on pecan farms in Texas.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
The state is now warning farmers to be on the lookout for a new version of the pest.

— Mirtha Donastorg, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of pest

Noun

But administrative burdens are a technology of annoyance, degradation, discrimination, and needless extraction.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
That information sticks together, and companies use it to build a profile of you for marketing, selling, and general annoyance.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of annoyance

Browse Nearby Words

gadflies

gadfly

gadget

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“Gadfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gadfly. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gadfly

noun

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