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extremism

noun
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ex·​trem·​ism | \ ik-ˈstrē-ˌmi-zəm How to pronounce extremism (audio) \

Definition of extremism

1 : the quality or state of being extreme
2 : advocacy of extreme measures or views : radicalism
Other Words from extremism Example Sentences Learn More about extremism

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Other Words from extremism

extremist \ ik-​ˈstrē-​mist How to pronounce extremist (audio) \ noun or adjective

Examples of extremism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Torturing people who are clearly dying is extremism. — Cassidy Morrison, Washington Examiner, "Texas anti-abortion groups split over case of 11-month-old on life support," 20 Jan. 2020 Globally, right-wing extremism poses a rising threat. — Jamille Bigio And Rachel Vogelstein, Twin Cities, "Bigio, Vogelstein: Understanding role of women is vital in fight against terrorism," 17 Sep. 2019 His unit was later disbanded and the department 's work on violent right- wing extremism was halted. — Author: Del Quentin Wilber, Anchorage Daily News, "FBI struggles to confront right-wing terrorism," 11 Aug. 2019 Both times, and now again with El Paso, extremism researchers have pleaded the same case: Don’t amplify the message. — Brian Barrett, WIRED, "The Wrong Way to Talk About a Shooter's Manifesto," 4 Aug. 2019 Yet there is no evidence that speech regulations do anything to dampen political violence and extremism, maladies that contemporary Europe boasts in abundance. — James Kirchick, Twin Cities, "James Kirchick: No, America doesn’t need a hate speech law," 10 Nov. 2019 The Pentagon has found nothing indicating a current threat among Saudi military trainees after scouring government and commercial databases in a search for red flags about religious extremism, officials said Thursday. — Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, "After Pensacola shooting, Pentagon screening of Saudi military trainees finds no imminent threat," 19 Dec. 2019 The attack comes amid a spike in hate crimes directed at immigrants that researchers and experts on extremism say is tied to mainstream political rhetoric. — Ivan Moreno, chicagotribune.com, "Milwaukee man says suspected attacker accused him of being here illegally before throwing battery acid in his face," 4 Nov. 2019 One is to announce a Friday summit on violent online extremism to be attended by tech companies, and to call on those companies to detect and report violent manifestos to the authorities. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Why deplatforming 8chan can be effective," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extremism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of extremism

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for extremism

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The first known use of extremism was in 1865

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Statistics for extremism

Last Updated

9 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Extremism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extremism. Accessed 19 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for extremism

extremism

noun
How to pronounce extremism (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of extremism

: belief in and support for ideas that are very far from what most people consider correct or reasonable

See the full definition for extremism in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on extremism

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for extremism

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with extremism

Britannica English: Translation of extremism for Arabic Speakers

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