1
as in segregation
the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others
Hitler's declaration of his belief in a "master race" provided irrefutable proof to the world of the inherent and dangerous racism of the Nazi movement
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2
as in prejudice
hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race
the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most deplorable incidents of racism that occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1960s
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for racism
Noun
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People from throughout the nation come to the former all-Black school building to learn about this nation's history of school segregation and the landmark court case that banned it in 1954.
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At the center of that legacy is the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District, where generations of Black entrepreneurs, musicians and residents built a thriving cultural and business community during segregation.
Noun
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For much of the past several decades, overt expressions of racial prejudice became increasingly socially unacceptable in mainstream public life.
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Ableism is the everyday prejudice — sometimes subtle, sometimes overt — that treats people with disabilities as inconvenient, less competent, or less deserving of respect and opportunity.
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“Racism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racism. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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