extremist 1 of 2

Definition of extremistnext
as in radical
being very far from the center of public opinion their extremist views on religious issues set them apart from the rest of the community

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extremist

2 of 2

noun

as in revolutionary
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government extremists wanted to do away with everything, even though they had no thought-out plan for what to do afterwards

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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 extremist
Adjective
The tri-border area has long been a hotbed for extremist violence, a trend worsened by the lack of security cooperation with Niger and Burkina Faso, both now led by military juntas. Arkansas Online, 13 Apr. 2026 The government has not explicitly named the TCC as an extremist group and the FBI declined our requests for comment. Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026 Increasing pressure on Memorial An extremist designation puts even more pressure on the group, as involvement with extremist activities is a criminal offense in Russia punishable by prison terms. Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 That said, there’s fundamental things about Mormonism in these extremist groups that are somewhat captivating because women in mainstream culture are seeing echoes in the tradwife movement, in the patriarchy that is integral to Mormonism. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026 Reports of extremist threats against places of worship added to the sense of unease. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 It is considered an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Josh Meyer, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026 Instead, their enjoyment has become ramped up to a level formerly reserved for unhinged, extremist fandoms, such as Trekkies and Beanie Baby collectors. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026 Police sources said Heifler, who is an alleged member of the violent extremist organization Jewish Defense League, had plans to flee to Israel after the attack. CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Associated Press reported that Algerian authorities rejected a Vatican request for Leo to visit Médéa to pray at the Tibhirine monastery, the place where seven French Trappist monks were kidnapped and killed May 21, 1996, by Islamic extremists during the country’s civil war. Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026 The country is also plagued by fighting involving Boko Haram militants in the north, as the Islamic extremist group’s insurgency in neighboring Nigeria has spilled over into Cameroon. ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026 Modern extremists aren’t known for their love of Broadway, but a song about impressing a girl by killing a president takes on new meaning when sung from the lips of a social media loner. Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026 Violent extremists feasted on this great replacement propaganda, using it to justify terror attacks across the West. Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026 Keep the pressure on every single one of these extremists. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026 Yet Ali’s act does not only evoke terrorist incidents such as the Charlie Hebdo attack, perpetrated by Muslim extremists, just a few months prior to The Red Chador. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 31 Mar. 2026 The Italian metal extremist has been going down a rabbit hole of his own with a series of highly technical I, Voidhanger releases marked by extraterrestrial synth work and winding, stop-on-a-dime riffs. Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026 In 2022, two officers were shot dead by Christian extremists at a rural property in Queensland state. CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
  • The trio, and others in their intellectual circle, share a few radical views.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
  • No, the blame falls on moderate Democrats, who knew darn well what progressives and progressivism represented but did nothing to prevent the radical left from engineering a takeover of their party.
    Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Thanks to a new English book from Boston playwright Kirsten Greenidge, the action is transported from France to 1776-era Boston where Massachusetts revolutionary and patriot Deborah Sampson has disguised herself as a man to fight for independence.
    Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
  • These works follow aging revolutionaries who have given up the fight after being forced into hiding or choosing to raise a family; some have simply grown tired of the struggle.
    Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • San Francisco taqueria El Faro, credited with inventing the super burrito, may be forced to sell its restaurant, citing an extreme rent increase.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Such extreme pessimism has historically acted as a contrarian indicator for markets, Hartnett said, with prior lows in sentiment coinciding with key turning points for equities, including in October 2023 and April 2025.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Throughout season two, rabid fans have started scrutinizing every corner of every scene for Easter eggs, which explains a recent viral post on X about a picture of a cat hanging in the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s break room.
    Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Yet Idaho’s third-division club is quickly taking its place among a small slice of rabid fan bases outside the MLS.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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