as in dissidents
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs
a society that prized conformity very highly and treated dissenters of any kind very harshly
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Recent Examples of dissenters
Such torrential downpours, from loyalists and dissenters alike, often follow the deaths of notorious and long-ruling dictators—Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Saddam Hussein.
—
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
One of those dissenters was the linguist Mark Liberman, who lambasted the word numerous times over the years in his blog Language Log.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
If opposition to immigration enforcement triggers subpoenas by the government to businesses to provide the identity of dissenters, that is a problem for the Constitution.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the blood-thirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
However, such a storied brand as Clinique even knows a universally flattering shade can still have its dissenters.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
Demanding papers, dragging away dissenters.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Though the dissenters were in the minority, as this was the direction the movement was headed.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Soon, dissenters are labeled enemies of the state.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
One of those dissenters was the linguist Mark Liberman, who lambasted the word numerous times over the years in his blog Language Log.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
If opposition to immigration enforcement triggers subpoenas by the government to businesses to provide the identity of dissenters, that is a problem for the Constitution.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the blood-thirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
However, such a storied brand as Clinique even knows a universally flattering shade can still have its dissenters.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
Demanding papers, dragging away dissenters.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Though the dissenters were in the minority, as this was the direction the movement was headed.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Soon, dissenters are labeled enemies of the state.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissenters
dissidents
Noun
-
Skip to content Both loyalists and dissidents wept over the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Newspapers were closed, dissidents jailed, and candidates kept off the ballot.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dissenters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissenters. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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