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

Their restricted status turned many into dissenters and activists, often tailed by the KGB and getting their phone lines cut in an effort to keep their stories quiet. — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

This echoed recent comments from three dissenters — Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan — who supported pulling the trigger on a quarter-point rate hike. — Andrew Moran, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026

These groups saw the sieges as proof that the federal government was hunting gun owners and religious dissenters. — Art Jipson, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Later today, the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee will release minutes for the July meeting, where three dissenters voted to hike rates. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 19 Aug. 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