ACTIVIST Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

activist

noun

Definition of activist

as in supporter

a person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) to help make changes in politics or society Antiwar activists were protesting in the streets. political activists

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 activist Musicians Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, Saturday Night Live’s Sarah Sherman, Oscar winner and indefatigable activist Susan Sarandon, and Einbinder all showed up to rebuke the speech, citing the UN’s own labeling of Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026 The conservative activist had been debating students before a crowd of thousands in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by tall buildings and elevated walkways on the campus in Orem, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. — ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026 My 32 years of community services at the county level and 20-plus as an activist in the Gables. — Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 Security should have been more stringent at the college event where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, according to a review released Friday by Utah Valley University. — Hannah Knowles, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for activist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for activist

Noun

Nixon embodies that for people, Dunn said, adding that her authenticity also attracts supporters.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Finally, supporters of the industry’s decisions contend that employers and venues have legitimate responsibilities to protect audiences and employees from hate speech, regardless of an entertainer’s race or gender.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of supporter

Noun

The brand also saw a higher rate of social mentions on X (Twitter) and an influx of comments on Instagram, surrounding the PETA incident involving CFDA chief executive officer Steven Kolb and a protester.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Dylan Kupsh, 27, emerged as a vocal UCLA protester and an outlier in the campus movement.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of protester

Browse Nearby Words

activewear

activist

activists

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Activist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/activist. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of activist

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

bellwether

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes