gadfly
IPA: gˈædfɫaɪ
noun
- Any dipterous (“two-winged”) insect or fly of the family Oestridae (commonly known as a botfly) or Tabanidae (horsefly), noted for irritating animals by buzzing about them, and biting them to suck their blood; a gadbee.
- (figuratively, also attributively)
- A person or thing that irritates or instigates.
- (specifically) A person who upsets the status quo by posing novel or upsetting questions, or attempts to stimulate innovation by being an irritant.
- Synonym of gadabout (“a person who restlessly moves from place to place, seeking amusement or the companionship of others”)
- (derogatory, slang) A person who takes without giving back; a bloodsucker.
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Examples of "gadfly" in Sentences
- There's a time to be the gadfly.
- The actual gadfly page is about the insect.
- He got to the point of being called a gadfly.
- Q: You've been called a gadfly, a consumer activist.
- Even to the point of being called a gadfly, he kept nagging.
- Clarke was described as a gadfly of Harlem intellectual life.
- The second argument is that his career as a gadfly is notable.
- The taxonomy of the gadfly petrels is being reformed at the moment.
- Being a gadfly is certainly a role, and occasionally a helpful one.
- This is a list of the birds that belong to the group gadfly petrels.
- However, Diefenbaker proved a gadfly and an annoyance to Mackenzie King.
- As for the Gadfly link, I'll get rid of it for now and consult other editors.
- And sometimes the gadfly is off base and really doesn't understand what is going on.
- History shows that once in a while even a so-called gadfly has been able to effect change.
- The Alaskan resident – now being referred to as a gadfly – criticized where she felt it was due and gave credit where it appeared there should be some.
- Boris Pincus, a former Queens resident who serves as Republican District Leader of Assembly District 45 in Brooklyn, has long been known as a gadfly within the Bukharian community who is biting in his criticism of the communal leadership.