as in writers
a person who writes a newspaper or magazine column
The columnist is known to take provocative positions that often shape the opinions of her readers. a gossip columnist
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of columnists
Our Until Saturday newsletter is a banger all throughout the season, and our columnists are Heisman short-listers with the pen.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Two of the state’s biggest columnists jumped into the fray.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Boy Scouts marched, as did fraternities, high-school classes, postmen, and newspaper columnists.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
Reporters avoid giving their opinion, unlike us columnists.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2025
The following 17 Times staff writers and columnists, listed alphabetically, share their favorite sports stories from 2024.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
With 2024 coming to a close, Tribune writers, columnists and critics took a look back at their favorite moments of the year, from the stage performances that captivated us to the books that kept us turning the page and much more.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024
White columnists wrote him open letters, processing their own feelings about race, alternating between flattery and belligerence.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The banter between columnists on the day’s news is not all meant for public consumption.
—Joanna Allhands, The Arizona Republic, 11 Oct. 2024
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Two of the state’s biggest columnists jumped into the fray.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
Boy Scouts marched, as did fraternities, high-school classes, postmen, and newspaper columnists.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
Reporters avoid giving their opinion, unlike us columnists.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2025
The following 17 Times staff writers and columnists, listed alphabetically, share their favorite sports stories from 2024.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
With 2024 coming to a close, Tribune writers, columnists and critics took a look back at their favorite moments of the year, from the stage performances that captivated us to the books that kept us turning the page and much more.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024
White columnists wrote him open letters, processing their own feelings about race, alternating between flattery and belligerence.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The banter between columnists on the day’s news is not all meant for public consumption.
—Joanna Allhands, The Arizona Republic, 11 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for columnists
Noun
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Observer writers predict Carolina Panthers season opener Fowler and Zietlow split last year’s predictor title, which was pretty incredible considering how topsy-turvy last year was and how differently their predictions went week to week.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
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Tech writers of the day were less than thrilled.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Many papers cited in the rebuttal also listed Chinese government employees as authors.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
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Significance of the cluster formation process By mapping the step-by-step growth of nanoclusters, the study authors have provided a rare glimpse into how atomic building blocks come together.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Watch Rye Lane on Hulu Boston Strangler Based on the gripping true story, this 2023 historical crime thriller stars Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon as Boston Record-American reporters Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, respectively.—
Hannah Kerns,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Observer reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow teamed up with Observer columnist Scott Fowler to deliver you our predictions on the Week 1 contest between the Jaguars and the Panthers.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Columnists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/columnists. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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