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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Recent Examples of columnists
Local residents and columnists have called for improvements, and the issue has drawn attention as the World Cup nears.
—
Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
The Sun’s five-member editorial board consists of Jensen, publisher Trif Alatzas, opinion editor Philip Caldwell, and columnists Torrey Snow and Julian Baron.
—Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
The book centers on four gossip columnists — one male, James, and three women — drawn from Shuter’s years in the trade, including his stint as a host on VH1’s The Gossip Table.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
Some newspapers run columnists whose voices support and reinforce the philosophy of the publishers; some run columnists that differ with them politically, philosophically, or both, to provide readers a choice of benchmarks against which to measure their own views.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
In these essays, our columnists follow their curiosity, and explore important but not necessarily answerable scientific questions.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Our columnists differ over the quality of the field and the excitement quotient of a race that has yet to capture voter attention.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The students worked on the story with former USA TODAY personal finance columnists John Waggoner and Sandy Block, who are volunteer YMG editors.
—Zoe Ligairi, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Angering politicians or columnists is one thing.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
The Sun’s five-member editorial board consists of Jensen, publisher Trif Alatzas, opinion editor Philip Caldwell, and columnists Torrey Snow and Julian Baron.
—Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
The book centers on four gossip columnists — one male, James, and three women — drawn from Shuter’s years in the trade, including his stint as a host on VH1’s The Gossip Table.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
Some newspapers run columnists whose voices support and reinforce the philosophy of the publishers; some run columnists that differ with them politically, philosophically, or both, to provide readers a choice of benchmarks against which to measure their own views.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
In these essays, our columnists follow their curiosity, and explore important but not necessarily answerable scientific questions.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Our columnists differ over the quality of the field and the excitement quotient of a race that has yet to capture voter attention.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The students worked on the story with former USA TODAY personal finance columnists John Waggoner and Sandy Block, who are volunteer YMG editors.
—Zoe Ligairi, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Angering politicians or columnists is one thing.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for columnists
Noun
-
The sketch was written by human writers and all the characters are played by actors, save for the AI girlfriend who is — yes — synthetic herself.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
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Like Soldier Boy at times, the Legend is a character who mainly exists as an excuse for the writers to include copious references to old starlets these men have banged.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Noun
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The fact that those dreary assessments have very little to do with the actual wants and needs of the vast majority of Californians — not to mention the state’s history of electing mostly dull and drab governors — should give their authors pause.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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In five separate experiments, the authors devised artificial foraging setups that contained cavities hidden beneath surfaces.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Raman was the only candidate to participate in the post-debate media scrum, speaking extensively with reporters after Bass and Pratt departed shortly after the event.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
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Both characters were fearful that their news sources were possibly leading them down the wrong path and that rival reporters on the New York Times would end up scooping them.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Noun
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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.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
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Before publishing, journalists reviewed this content in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Columnists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/columnists. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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