demagoogilise

Demagoogilise is a verb meaning to render something demagogic or to employ demagoguery in rhetoric; to transform political debate into demagoguery. The word is a neologism formed from demagogue and the suffix -ise (British spelling). It is used in contemporary political analysis to describe the deliberate adoption of demagogic tactics—such as fear appeals, scapegoating, oversimplification, and us-versus-them framing—in speeches, campaigns, or media messaging. The term typically carries a critical nuance, signaling a shift from substantive policy discussion to emotional manipulation.

Usage notes: The verb can take various spellings depending on dialect (demagoogilise in British English; American writers may render it with -ize in some forms, though a widely established American standard has not settled). The word is primarily found in academic writing and opinion journalism. It is a specialized term and not widely standardized in dictionaries, but it is used to describe a process rather than a one-off act.

Context and interpretation: Demagoogilise describes not just a rhetorical style but a process by which discourse becomes structured around demagoguery. Analysts use the term to critique political messaging that relies on simplified narratives, finger-pointing, or appeals to fear rather than evidence and policy detail. As a neologism, its precise boundaries and accepted spellings may vary across sources.

See also: Demagoguery; demagogue; populism; political rhetoric.