extremist 1 of 2

Definition of extremistnext
as in radical
being very far from the center of public opinion their extremist views on religious issues set them apart from the rest of the community

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extremist

2 of 2

noun

as in revolutionary
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government extremists wanted to do away with everything, even though they had no thought-out plan for what to do afterwards

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of extremist
Adjective
Police sources said Heifler, who is an alleged member of the violent extremist organization Jewish Defense League, had plans to flee to Israel after the attack. CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 In January, Clavicular joined Tate, Fuentes, and the extremist podcaster Myron Gaines at a nightclub in Miami. Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Several Israeli civil rights and political groups have criticized the government for not doing enough to combat the extremist settler violence. Monica Alba, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026 The Iran war, in other words, seems to be superseding earlier grievances and instead uniting disparate extremist forces against the United States. Jacob Ware, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026 Hidalgo was elected in 2014 and reelected in 2020 but chose not to seek a third six-year term after leading the city through the 2015 extremist attacks and the 2024 Paris Olympics. ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026 The Iran war, in other words, seems to be superseding earlier grievances and instead uniting disparate extremist forces against the United States. Jacob Ware, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 Hurley's campaign gained attention online when a Reddit post showed a 2022 profile photo on Hurley's Facebook page depicted a logo of extremist group The Three Percenters. Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026 Each escalatory cycle in the Middle East energizes their exposure to and gradual adoption of extremist views. Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
Yet Ali’s act does not only evoke terrorist incidents such as the Charlie Hebdo attack, perpetrated by Muslim extremists, just a few months prior to The Red Chador. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 31 Mar. 2026 The Italian metal extremist has been going down a rabbit hole of his own with a series of highly technical I, Voidhanger releases marked by extraterrestrial synth work and winding, stop-on-a-dime riffs. Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026 In 2022, two officers were shot dead by Christian extremists at a rural property in Queensland state. CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026 Otherwise extremists win and America will lose. Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026 Just as former gang members serve as effective anti-gang advocates, former extremists work with those who either volunteer to leave or have been court-mandated to go through deradicalization. Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026 Kent, a former Green Beret and political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed in July on a 52-44 vote. Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026 Heavy security deployed Maiduguri has been at the heart of deadly violence in Nigeria in the past, but has experienced relative peace in recent years, even as the countryside is often battered by extremists. Haruna Umar, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 Kent is a right-wing extremist with ties to the antisemite commentator Tucker Carlson. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
  • His themes intersect with those of Kiarostami—an anti-authoritarianism that, though no less radical, is an ironic, self-deprecating one.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The most radical changes all concern food and drink in one way or another.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Among the first lessons that Iran’s Islamic revolutionaries learned after coming to power in 1979 was that their best ally against American power was American democracy.
    Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The organizers were arrested and denounced by authorities as counter-revolutionaries.
    Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • From extreme heat and wildfire smoke to asthma and utility costs, climate change is already impacting our everyday lives.
    CBS LA Staff, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • This model is also the brand’s most durable yet, boasting an extreme IP69 rating for water and dust resistance, paired with a versatile triple 50MP camera system that captures professional-grade detail across wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto shots.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Rabies is a preventable viral disease that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Based on the rabid demand and explosive growth of Kylie Cosmetics, the company drew the attention of the business press.
    Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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