columnists

noun

plural of columnist
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

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 columnists The Star’s writers and columnists are keeping an eye on these four players during the game. — Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2026 Championship rings are not used as a measuring stick only by overcaffeinated fans and simpleminded columnists and talk-show hosts. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026 The essay and a follow-up went viral and were cited by columnists at The New York Times and The Washington Post. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 In these essays, our columnists follow their curiosity, and explore important but not necessarily answerable scientific questions. — Quanta Magazine, 13 July 2026 Our columnists are ready to unknot your interpersonal complications. — Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 7 July 2026 Some of Hollywood’s most theatrical scandals were efficiently contained by press agents who nurtured their clout with cops and columnists alike. — Peter Bart, Deadline, 4 June 2026 The two are former columnists at The New York Times, and neither had broadcast television experience before arriving at CBS. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 2 June 2026 Walters is a columnists for CalMatters. — Dan Walters, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for columnists
  1. writers
  2. authors
  3. reporters
  4. journalists
Noun
  • And former Conan writers did a rewatch pod in honor of Conan O’Brien’s 20th year in late night.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Neither group showed higher-than-normal death rates from cancers that aren’t tied to radiation exposure, noted the commentary writers, Catherine Olsen and Ken Karipidis.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of writers
Noun
  • Still, the authors specifically caution that gestational hypertension is probably underreported because health conditions are often underreported on birth certificates.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In a common legislative maneuver, the authors expected to gut the existing language, amend it to reflect the deal to adjust the tax credit cap, then pass it out of the Assembly and send it back to the Senate for a concurrence.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of authors
Noun
  • The rare meeting in Egypt with Hamas' Khalil al-Hayya was also confirmed to the Associated Press by a regional official and a Hamas official, both speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.
    — August 17, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And that was in the opening statement — before any reporters asked a question.
    — Jesse Newell, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of reporters
Noun
  • Outside the courtroom of this trial, traditional TV cameras sit side-by-side with cellphone cameras manned by new media journalists and commentators feeding an audience hungry, not just for true crime, but also for a look back in time.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The deportees were clad in white, and many covered their faces out of safety as journalists filmed their arrival.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of journalists

Browse Nearby Words

columnist
columnists
columns
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Columnists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/columnists. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on columnists

Nglish: Translation of columnists for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All