ter·ror·ist
ˈter-ər-ist 
plural terrorists
: an advocate or practitioner of terrorism as a means of coercion
Opposition still runs high to the idea of releasing or bringing into U.S. prisons dozens of men widely considered dangerous terrorists even if many are not.
Less than three weeks before the Winter Olympics are set to begin in the Russian city of Sochi, police there have begun hunting for suspected terrorists allegedly plotting attacks.—
Time
Time
: or, relating to, or characteristic of terrorists or terrorism : practicing or involving violent acts of terror
a terrorist organization
The consequences of the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks of September 2001 will ramify for decades.—Joe Klein
Joe KleinThere is no margin for error when a real terrorist threat is present and the safety of the public, and the first responders, is in jeopardy.—Gary J. Laughlin
Gary J. LaughlinExamples of terrorist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
John Wisely, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Tens of thousands of Nigerians, both Christians and Muslims, have been murdered by terrorists such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as violent Fulani herdsmen, over the past decade.
—Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, 19, of Montclair, New Jersey, who is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorist
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Noun
The government has accused the men of being armed and radicalized terrorists with a plan to attack an LGBTQ+-friendly establishment in Ferndale or an amusement park, but the FBI got to them first.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Tens of thousands of Nigerians, both Christians and Muslims, have been murdered by terrorists such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as violent Fulani herdsmen, over the past decade.
—Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Trump lifted al-Sharaa's terrorist designation last week and has called for Congress to lift all sanctions on Syria, though some Republicans oppose a blanket repeal without safeguards.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, 19, of Montclair, New Jersey, who is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrorist
Cite this Entry
“Terrorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorist. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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