DISSIDENT Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

dissident 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdi-sə-dənt

Definition of dissident

as in dissenting

deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices dissident elements within the Catholic Church

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dissident

2 of 2

noun

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

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 dissident

Adjective

The attack apparently targeted the Iranian Kurdish dissident group Komala, killing at least nine people and wounding others, said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 In 2017, Ojeda and other young dissident officers had been jailed and tortured in Venezuela. — Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 10 July 2026

Noun

Cuba has recently exiled other prominent dissidents, most recently José Daniel Ferrer, who have been forced to abandon the island for the United States. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026 Blake’s 7 tells the story of Roj Blake, a political dissident working against the totalitarian Federation controlling Earth and its colonies. — William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissident

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissident

Adjective

The Fed’s interest rate-setting committee is divided and saw the most dissenting votes in more than three decades last month.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.

— Elizabeth Sander, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Aug. 2022

Definition of dissenting

Noun

That fear had been growing on the Street in recent weeks, after three dissenters at the last central bank meeting in July voted to raise rates.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Since January, when Iran saw the largest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, executions of political dissenters have surged.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of dissenter

Adjective

Throughout his career, Ackman has built a reputation for taking unconventional positions and backing them with conviction—whether making bold investment bets or weighing in on contentious public debates.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Arraez immediately validated this unconventional strategy, delivering an RBI single and a double in his impressive Phillies debut.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of unconventional

Noun

But instead of employing a ball gown, glass slippers, and a grand carriage made from a pumpkin, the renegade maid comes to her damsel in distress armed with a different kind of escape plan—one involving an axe and a double parricide.

— Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026
Wang plays down the potential for renegade robots to wreak havoc.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 July 2026

Definition of renegade

Adjective

The design was by aviation legend Burt Rutan, known for his bold and often maverick creations.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 27 Jan. 2023
But the true landmark was Pierre Balmain’s Vent Vert, created by maverick female perfumer Germaine Cellier (also the mastermind behind Robert Piguet’s showstopping Fracas) in 1947.

— Town & Country, Town & Country, 19 Dec. 2022

Definition of maverick

Adjective

This dogmatic approach to revolutionary citizenship led to the horrible treatment of any perceived as nonconformist, such as LGBTQ people, hippies or punks.

— Juan Carlos Albarran, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
In the end, Levine’s profile of the nonconformist genius reveals just how superb a dancer Cole was.

— R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Definition of nonconformist

Adjective

Heti has been brought here by Justin Vernon, the 45-year-old creative force behind the iconoclastic indie act Bon Iver, long-running musical avatars of beautiful melancholia.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026
In a retrospective on her career, Sheridan acknowledged her iconoclastic nature.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Definition of iconoclastic

Adjective

In the 14th century, Bibles in English became associated with John Wycliffe, a priest who criticized corruption in the Catholic Church, and whose views on Holy Communion the church had declared heretical.

— Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
This point can sound almost heretical in modern healthcare discourse, where prevention is frequently framed as both morally superior and financially inevitable.

— Jeffrey Wessler, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Definition of heretical

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“Dissident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissident. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of dissident

adjective

noun

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