schismatic

1 of 2

noun

schis·mat·ic siz-ˈma-tik

ski-

Synonyms of schismatic next

: one who creates or takes part in schism

schismatic

2 of 2

adjective

siz-ˈma-ti-kəl

ski-

variants or less commonly schismatical

: of, relating to, or guilty of schism

schismatically

siz-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē

ski-

adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This situation has arisen because the head of state, President Poroshenko, turned to the patriarch in Constantinople to give autocephaly to the schismatics. —

Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2019 How much backing the schismatics might have among AK voters is unclear. —

The Economist, 6 June 2019 In 1997 the patriarch of the Russian church excommunicated him and declared his followers schismatics. —

Michael Khodarkovsky, WSJ, 30 Sep. 2018

Adjective

Novatian: one of an early Christian schismatic sect existing from A.D. 251 to the 6th or 7th century that denied that the church should restore lapsed Christians to membership and advocated a rigidly purist conception of church membership. —

Dallas News, 1 June 2022 The fracture widens and hardens—fanatic, schismatic, idiotic. —

Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2022 The calls-and-responses between strings and winds in the middle of the first movement dramatically seesawed tempos, whetting Tchaikovsky’s schismatic emotional contrasts to sharp points. —

Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022 This decree reversed the policy of Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, who in 2007 loosened restrictions on the Latin Mass in order to improve relations with schismatic traditionalist groups, according to the National Catholic Reporter. —

Grayson Quay, The Week, 19 Dec. 2021 Benedict issued his document in 2007 to reach out to a breakaway, schismatic group that celebrates the Latin Mass, the Society of St. Pius X, which had split from Rome over the modernizing reforms of Vatican II. —

Arkansas Online, 17 July 2021 Benedict had issued his document in 2007 to reach out to a breakaway, schismatic group that celebrates the Latin Mass, the Society of St. Pius X, and which had split from Rome over the modernizing reforms of Vatican II. —

Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 16 July 2021 Benedict had issued his document in 2007 to reach out to a breakaway, schismatic group that celebrates the Latin Mass, the Society of St. Pius X, and which had split from Rome over the modernizing reforms of Vatican II. —

Fox News, 16 July 2021 This would be the case also for an apostate, heretic, schismatic bishop, presbyter, or deacon. —

Fr. Goran Jovicic, National Review, 13 June 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'schismatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scismatyk, sysmatyke, borrowed from Anglo-French and Late Latin; Anglo-French scismatic, scismatike, borrowed from Late Latin scismaticus, schismaticus, borrowed from Late Greek schismatikós, noun derivative of schismatikós, adjective, "of a schism" — more at schismatic entry 2

Adjective

Middle English scismatike, borrowed from Middle French and Late Latin; Middle French scismatique, borrowed from Late Latin scismaticus, schismaticus, borrowed from Late Greek schismatikós, from schismat-, schísma "dissension in religion" (going back to Greek, "cleft, division") + Greek -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at schism

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of schismatic was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century