1
as in accomplice
one associated with another in wrongdoing
the police were able to track down his confederates once the thief started talking
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2
as in supporter
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support
relied on her confederates in the medical community for support
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as in to cooperate
to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members
the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers
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as in allied
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Examples of confederate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
In the 19th century, many former confederates were removed from Congress by Congress itself.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2024
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 21 Nov. 2022
The holiday celebrates confederate soldiers such as Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.
—Mabinty Quarshie, USA TODAY, 15 June 2021
ABC News, 3 Dec. 2023
Aldean — who in the past has courted controversy by wearing a t-shirt featuring a confederate flag and dressing in blackface as Lil Wayne for Halloween — has repeatedly denied that the song had any ill intent.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for confederate 
Noun
But Pétain’s regime, which had, to varying degrees, also administered much of the initial occupied zone, endured, even as the marshal’s power continued to be whittled away by the occupiers and their confederates within his own government.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
In the 19th century, many former confederates were removed from Congress by Congress itself.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2024
Verb
The Kinfolk app’s launch comes as fierce debate rages about the monuments staring down at us from city centers: those that pay tribute to confederate leaders, slave owners, or other tarnished once-heroes.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 21 Nov. 2022
The holiday celebrates confederate soldiers such as Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.
—Mabinty Quarshie, USA TODAY, 15 June 2021
Adjective
Every member expelled in history of this institution has been convicted of crimes or confederate turncoats guilty of treason.
—ABC News, 3 Dec. 2023
Aldean — who in the past has courted controversy by wearing a t-shirt featuring a confederate flag and dressing in blackface as Lil Wayne for Halloween — has repeatedly denied that the song had any ill intent.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for confederate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confederate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Confederate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confederate. Accessed 14 Sep. 2024.
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