extremist 1 of 2

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
Publications that had previously dedicated resources to writing about extremist political movements, like BuzzFeed News, Vice, The Daily Beast, and others, have since cut back or (in BuzzFeed’s case) stopped doing news altogether. Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025 However, this new poll indicates that at least among young voters, controversies tied to extremist symbols may not turn the dial with their loyalties, highlighting a potential limit of the impact of scandals in modern campaigns and a potential shift in political tolerance. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 That could have drastic consequences as bad actors use it to enact hateful stereotypes and push extremist propaganda. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025 That also applies to the current de facto annexation being carried out by radical settlers and extremist ministers in Netanyahu’s cabinet. Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025 Stone Island isn’t the only label to have been worn by people associated with extremist movements in recent years. Steve Salter, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 Authorities said he had been radicalized online by watching violent and extremist videos. Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025 Guns make political violence easier by erasing the distance between extremist ideas and lethal action. Gregory P. Magarian, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025 On social media, the group tied explicit books in schools and libraries to political extremist efforts. Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
Extremist or hate group recruitment Alarmingly, violent extremists are taking advantage of open platforms like Discord, using it as a recruiting ground for vulnerable and unsuspecting users. Alex Vance, Parents, 21 Oct. 2025 The extremists are insulting you every single day. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025 This would put Americans more at risk of actual threats — such as those posed by homegrown violent extremists who subscribe to Islamic State or Al Qaeda doctrine. Jason M. Blazakis, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025 The extremists are insulting you every single day. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025 This story goes back to Israel’s 1996 election that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by an Israeli extremist opposed to the Oslo Accords. Thomas Friedman, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025 For too long in Kansas, the Republican Party has been dominated by extremists who see no room for moderation or bipartisanship, let alone unity or mutual respect. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025 So what happens when extremists wear their clothes? Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 Pureval's characterization of MAGA extremists sparked boos from Bowman supporters in the crowd. Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
  • These more radical communities are heavily fragmented yet increasingly popular.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Today, as a government shutdown darkens our national museums and the National Endowment for the Humanities is gutted, the danger is no longer a matter of rhetoric but of radical, systemic action.
    Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Most of the records on the Haitian revolution were written by people who opposed the revolutionaries.
    Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The Mexican actor plays revolutionaries in both season 2 of Star Wars series Andor and new movie musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In Julius Caesar Shakespeare demonstrates the extreme consequences of a lack of due process.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
  • For extreme pickle lovers, Jimmy John's is also offering the Triple Pickle, a meal deal that features your choice of Picklewich, Pickle Jimmy Chips, and Pickle Ranch.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rod Wave Elite is a popular high school basketball squad that bounces around the country playing exhibition games to crowds of rabid teens and internet celebrities.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Ed Sheeran is used to playing for tens of thousands of rabid fans in stadiums around the world.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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