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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confederate
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Players can enrich themselves and their confederates, at least until they’re caught.
—David French, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Mark Sherman, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2024
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
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
The series somewhat downplays the real-life danger: In the show, men in a truck wagging a confederate flag egg Ali’s lodge.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for confederate
Noun
As the fallout continues, and fans question the filming and casting decisions of parent company Disney, Paul’s MomTok confederates are issuing statements and subtweets.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Players can enrich themselves and their confederates, at least until they’re caught.
—David French, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year.
—Mark Sherman, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2024
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
Adjective
More than 2,000 confederate symbols remain across the country, and some have even been restored including those Virginia schools reclaiming their names.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
The series somewhat downplays the real-life danger: In the show, men in a truck wagging a confederate flag egg Ali’s lodge.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for confederate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confederate
Noun
-
The psychologist was a willing accomplice, even curious.—
Weike Wang,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
According to the indictment, Do and an accomplice allegedly tried to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles to Taiwan between December 2022 and May 2024.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The deciding vote was cast by Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat and staunch supporter of Israel, who again crossed party lines to side with Republicans and oppose the measure.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
13 May 2026
-
Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a fierce supporter of the new map, has not yet certified the referendum campaign for the ballot.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Candidates staked out starkly different views on California’s shield laws and whether the state should cooperate with out‑of‑state prosecutions of doctors.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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This comes after an apparent rift between local and federal authorities searching for Guthrie surfaced publicly last week when FBI Director Kash Patel accused Nanos’ department of not cooperating with the bureau during the case’s early days.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The company called for tighter export controls, stronger protections against technology theft, and wider adoption of American AI systems across allied markets.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
National Bureau of Investigation agents tried to serve the ICC arrest warrant, but dela Rosa darted toward a narrow stairway into the Senate plenary hall and sought the help of allied senators, who took him into protective custody.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
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López was one of the fiercest critics of then-Mayor Fúnez, a supporter of the mine and close ally of Honduras’ former president, Xiomara Castro.—
Marlon González,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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In previous Middle East conflicts, American diplomats constantly shuttled across the region, working with allies to build up momentum for a political resolution.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Alasdair McLellan shot the portraits and a series of trailers that portray Jung Kook as a modern icon embodying the freedom of the open road, uniting fashion and entertainment to create an immersive world that balances his larger-than-life impact with Calvin Klein’s point of view.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
-
Moulin has just returned from London, where President Charles de Gaulle is in hiding, with a plan to unite the various factions of the warring rebel underground.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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In both competitive partisan races and in Democrat-on-Democrat contests, analysts say frustration about the economy is bubbling up from voters.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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While largely staying away from partisan politics, Durbin reiterated his longstanding support for the Dream Act, legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for people brought to the United States illegally as children by their parents.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Much more dangerously, Mary was charged with being a Southern sympathizer or spy.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The prosecutor quietly alerted Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, fearing Nazi sympathizers on the German force might warn Eichmann.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confederate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confederate. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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