protagonists

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 protagonists The perspective and agency of the protagonists shift, motivated by their desire for justice and reparations. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 The threads are united by the single house where the protagonists live, which in both timelines is falling apart. — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 While finishing her new novel ‘American Hagwon,’ author Min Jin Lee traveled to Sydney to discover how the city may have shaped her fictional protagonists. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026 Siskel and Ebert wannabes Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick of the Lakers liken themselves to iconic film protagonists. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026 When the race goes green on Sunday, Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar — protagonists in a late accident at Bristol and the fistfight that followed — will be subjects of intense scrutiny. — Reid Spencer, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 Three students emerge as protagonists, two troublemaking boys and an outcast girl, who unsteadily becomes their friend. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026 The road trip narrative is a familiar sub-genre, but from On the Road to The Grapes of Wrath to Thelma and Louise, the Great American Road Trip has always seemed like the purview of white protagonists. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026 The show is really interesting in that there are sort of these two protagonists. — Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protagonists
  1. proponents
  2. supporters
  3. advocates
  4. exponents
  5. promoters
Noun
  • The movie’s proponents also stressed that the film industry was an economic engine for the city.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • On the other side of the campaign, John Adams was labeled by Jefferson's proponents as a monarchist with aspirations to become king of the new United States.
    — Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of proponents
Noun
  • The measure has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters arguing that early intervention could reduce per-student costs over time and opponents saying property owners already face rising costs and the district should use existing resources.
    — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Clark supporters argued one game was insufficient for an ejectable non-basketball act.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of supporters
Noun
  • Amid the uncertainty, children have been going to their court hearings without legal representation lately, according to advocates.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Some advocates see differently than Alito While many religious liberty advocates openly share Alito's concerns, some have voiced a different view of the current state of affairs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of advocates
Noun
  • Of course, there are also age-old hustles so evidently dishonest that there was a time when their exponents risked being hung or shot.
    — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Which trace from our Galois representation clings to each of these terms with prime exponents depends on how our equation, , behaves in a number field defined by that particular prime.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of exponents
Noun
  • Two vocal supporters of Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra filed a formal campaign finance complaint against his rival, Steve Hilton, on Tuesday over the Republican campaign’s use of paid online promoters.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Fears about a future AI apocalypse distract us from its present-day harms — just as its promoters hope.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of promoters

Browse Nearby Words

protagonist
protagonists
protean
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Cite this Entry

“Protagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protagonists. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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