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 hacks targeted opioid manufacturers and an extremist organization. Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Marine Le Pen succeeds her father as president of the National Front, launching a long-term effort to broaden the party’s appeal and distance it from its extremist image. ABC News, 6 July 2026 Since Musk, the world’s richest person, took over X (then Twitter) in 2022 in a $44B deal, the site has come under constant criticism for promoting extremist content and misinformation. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 July 2026 Disciples of this extremist hatred are running for office and winning in select primaries. Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026 The West African country of 23 million people has been battered by years-long violence perpetrated by extremist groups linked to Al Qaeda and the militant group Islamic State, as well as government forces often accused of extrajudicial killings. Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 Jacob Wagner, a digital research analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue — a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to combat extremism — said that Gen Z teenagers are increasingly engaging with extremist content online, something that groups like United Youth seek to capitalize on. Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Noun
The planned demonstration of force was timed to bring a fringe group of extremists into public view as the nation marked 250 years of its independence. Odette Yousef, NPR, 11 July 2026 Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group. ABC News, 11 July 2026 Labor lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group. Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 Ahead of a challenging midterm election, Republicans have seized an opportunity to castigate their opponents as extremists after democratic socialists won recent Democratic congressional primaries in New York and Colorado. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026 In a campaign statement, Holscher said she’s being painted as an extremist for standing up for everyday people. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026 Stevens, meanwhile, has cast El-Sayed as an extremist and a publicity hound. Justin Papp, CNBC, 10 July 2026 Advertisement El-Sayed has enthusiastically campaigned with Piker at Michigan colleges, and has repeatedly declined opportunities to denounce the streamer’s past remarks, including those widely condemned as antisemitic or extremist. Nik Popli, Time, 8 July 2026 More than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically ‌massacred in the East African ⁠nation by Hutu extremists over roughly 100 days from April ⁠to July 1994. Reuters, NBC news, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
  • That’s what Rebecca Loviconi‘s ‘genre fusion’ feature doc Crime or Rescue will reveal, as the ‘romantic true crime’ story that’s set to hit the doc market follows radical animal activists who unexpectedly fall in love during the filming.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026
  • Alfaturk16’s leak locks in a July 22 release date for the new Galaxy Watches, potentially giving Samsung just a few weeks to unveil what could prove to be a radical addition to the company’s wearable portfolio.
    Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • The monarchy was overthrown in the February Revolution of 1917, and the tsar and his family became prisoners of the revolutionaries.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
  • The original Jacobins were the most radical faction of the French revolutionaries.
    David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • In his view, that defiance forced the GOP to take extreme measures and go it alone.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 July 2026
  • Still, many labor for long hours in extreme heat without shade, without reliable access to clean water, and without the basic protections most Floridians take for granted.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Adjective
  • The other rabid animals were five bats and one each cat, coyote, skunk and woodchuck.
    Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026
  • This was a rabid, partisan home-soil advantage that flat-out bullied the squad into surviving.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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