1
as in accomplice
one associated with another in wrongdoing
the police were able to track down his confederates once the thief started talking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in supporter
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support
relied on her confederates in the medical community for support
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to cooperate
to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members
the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in allied
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of confederate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2023
Six of his confederates had already pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
—Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2024
Andrew R. Chow, Time, 21 Nov. 2022
The holiday celebrates confederate soldiers such as Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.
—Mabinty Quarshie, USA TODAY, 15 June 2021
Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2023
Every member expelled in history of this institution has been convicted of crimes or confederate turncoats guilty of treason.
—ABC News, 3 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for confederate 
Noun
Even as this partnership has grown by leaps and bounds, there remains an unbridgeable gap between the two countries, given India’s consistent desire to avoid becoming the junior partner—or even a confederate—of any great power.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2023
Six of his confederates had already pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
—Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2024
Verb
The Kinfolk app’s launch comes as fierce debate rages about the monuments staring down at us from city centers: those that pay tribute to confederate leaders, slave owners, or other tarnished once-heroes.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 21 Nov. 2022
The holiday celebrates confederate soldiers such as Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.
—Mabinty Quarshie, USA TODAY, 15 June 2021
Adjective
The provision was used often in the years immediately after the Civil War, but fell into disuse after Congress granted an amnesty to many confederate veterans in 1872.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2023
Every member expelled in history of this institution has been convicted of crimes or confederate turncoats guilty of treason.
—ABC News, 3 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for confederate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confederate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Thesaurus Entries Near confederate
Cite this Entry
“Confederate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confederate. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share