PROTAGONIST Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

protagonist

noun

prō-ˈta-gə-nist

Definition of protagonist

as in proponent

a person who actively supports or favors a cause Milton Friedman is usually cited as the leading American protagonist of monetarism

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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 protagonist After all, an emotional, and intense, journey is also what the protagonists of her movie embark on. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 Kennedy borrowed Gatsby’s strategy of having an associate of the protagonist tell the story. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 The sequel ratchets up the stakes by saddling its cursed protagonist with not only a supernatural nightmare but the pressures of living under an intensely public spotlight. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026 But Frank Meier, as Collin presents him, is not a very interesting protagonist for a novel. — David Denby, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for protagonist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonist

Noun

What may be alarming to proponents of data privacy is exciting for marketers.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
Her departure follows a career shift from a respected business journalist to a proponent of conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the 2020 election.

— Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

So are 44 of 50 state attorneys general, dozens of Indian tribes, consumer advocates, addiction experts, and an increasingly bipartisan contingent on Capitol Hill.

— Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Satish Thiagarjan, founder and CEO of Brysa, advocates using a scoring system rather than relying on instinct.

— Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of advocate

Noun

His mind didn’t go blank; rather, all the what-ifs multiplied like exponents, crowding his thoughts and rendering him unable to envision anything else.

— Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Often categorized along with Bellow and Bernard Malamud as exponents of a particularly Jewish-American sensibility, all three were additionally masters of the American voice.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 June 2026

Definition of exponent

Noun

Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley estended her condolences to victim’s friends and family.

— Elgin Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
More messages arrived over Discord, X, WhatsApp, and even from a colleague who had been asked by a friend to see whether Fabian would correct his story to say that the explosion had been caused by interceptor fragments.

— Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of friend

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protagonist

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“Protagonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protagonist. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of protagonist

noun

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