dissenter

noun

dis·​sent·​er di-ˈsen-tər 

1

: one that dissents

2

Dissenter : an English Nonconformist

Synonyms of dissenter

• dissident
• renegade

Examples of dissenter in a Sentence

a society that prized conformity very highly and treated dissenters of any kind very harshly

Recent Examples on the Web

Those surveyed also correctly predicted the dissenters to the decision. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026

Three of the 12 members on the Fed's policymaking board, however, voted in favor of a rate hike, marking the largest number of dissenters casting ballots in the same direction in a decade. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

At agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, polygraphs reportedly have been used frequently – and more punitively – to identify internal dissenters. — Brian O'Neill, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

The one dissenter this round is Vic, who emphatically votes for the visible boom mic. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dissenter

• frequenter
• indenter
• inventor
• precentor
• preventer
• tormentor
• center
• centre
• enter
• renter
• stentor
• epicenter

Kids Definition

dissenter

noun

dis·​sent·​er dis-ˈent-ər 

1

: one that dissents

2

capitalized : an English Protestant who is not in agreement with the rules or beliefs of the Church of England