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
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Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Stopping the murdering, terrorist-exporting regime in Iran is absolutely the right decision.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq is listed as a terrorist organization by Iran and is widely despised inside the country.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
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Noun
Two young men accused of trying to detonate explosive devices during a protest outside the home of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday have been charged with attempting to support a foreign terrorist group and using a weapon of mass destruction, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
—Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Stopping the murdering, terrorist-exporting regime in Iran is absolutely the right decision.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Balat and Kayumi were being held without bail after their court appearance on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq is listed as a terrorist organization by Iran and is widely despised inside the country.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorist
Cite this Entry
“Terrorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorist. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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