as in dissenting
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
dissident elements within the Catholic Church
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dissenter
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs
the conference drew political dissidents of every ilk
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dissident
James Trapani, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
The dissident group also said that the people of Kazerun demonstrated Saturday in the city's Shohada Square, where security fired live ammunition at the protesters.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissident
Adjective
After hundreds of thousands of opposition protesters took to the streets in April 2002, Chavez was briefly ousted in a coup by dissident military officers and opposition figures, who installed a new president, businessman Pedro Carmona.
—James Trapani, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
The dissident group also said that the people of Kazerun demonstrated Saturday in the city's Shohada Square, where security fired live ammunition at the protesters.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Noun
This is when the dissident has always stepped in.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissident
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissident
Adjective
-
Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
-
The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Noun
-
Demanding papers, dragging away dissenters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Tanenbaum is his sixth sitting justice, leaving the senior justice, Jorge Labarga, as a lonely dissenter facing mandatory retirement in October 2027.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Trump, much like in his first term, remains a polarizing figure, as his second presidential term has been marked by a series of unconventional actions.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
6 Feb. 2026
-
For more than four decades, Robert Kaplow has built an unconventional writing career.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But, a renegade locomotive is careening toward Los Angeles in its place.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
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Holding hands, terrace kisses and renegade servants?—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The design was by aviation legend Burt Rutan, known for his bold and often maverick creations.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2023
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Sinema has modeled her political approach on the maverick style of the late Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who alienated the grassroots of his party by sometimes crossing the aisle to work with Democrats.—
Time,
Time,
23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Once ridiculed and dismissed for his nonconformist views on vaccines, nutrition, and exercise, Kennedy now leads a vast legion of followers and acolytes.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
-
As such, the city takes on its own distinctively sooty, nonconformist character.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Consisting entirely of text, the iconoclastic video installation was shown briefly on television, in airtime purchased by the artists, to alert unsuspecting spectators to TV advertising’s role—and their own complicity—in maintaining the status quo.—
Michael Cowan,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
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The film’s official synopsis is a quote attributed to the iconoclastic filmmaker.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This heretical policy gets some support from yet another rigid convention, that of credits, which separates directors from screenwriters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
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That’s because The Carpenter’s Son is not only gruesomely horror-leaning, but it’s based on the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which some deem heretical or even blasphemous.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dissident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissident. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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