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Definition of "gadfly" []

  • A persistent irritating critic; a nuisance. (noun)
  • One that acts as a provocative stimulus; a goad. (noun)
  • Any of various flies, especially of the family Tabanidae, that bite or annoy livestock and other animals. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "gadfly" in a sentence
  • "Being a gadfly is certainly a role, and occasionally a helpful one."
  • "And sometimes the gadfly is off base and really doesn't understand what is going on."
  • "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."