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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 extremist
Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Local officials have attributed the power outage to an arson attack from The Vulkangruppe (The Volcano Group), a left-wing extremist group.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
The account’s display name referenced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of the extremist group.
—Gary D. Robertson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
While those groups are not synonymous with ISIS, experts say the incomplete dismantling of extremist networks has left gaps that ISIS cells continue to exploit.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Directed by Shen Ao, the film follows a foreign correspondent, his wife and an engineer who are abducted by an extremist group while on assignment abroad, starring Yang Xiao, Xi Qi and Simon Yam.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Dec. 2025
The other geopolitical concern on the agenda Monday was Syria, as its new president, Ahmed al Sharaa, a former al Qaeda jihadist who helped topple his predecessor, Bashar Assad, grapples with more extremist forces in his country.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
But experts tell us that extremist groups in Nigeria have been indiscriminate in their violence.
—ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
Nigeria’s government has previously said in response to Trump’s criticisms that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremist groups.
—Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil-rights group, has designated Tuberville as an anti-Muslim extremist based on past statements.
—Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group, has designated Tuberville as an anti-Muslim extremist based on past statements.
—Safiyah Riddle, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
With no escape, the young band members (played by Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner) are forced into a vicious fight for survival against merciless extremists, led by Patrick Stewart's sinister Darcy Banker.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has continued to escalate for months as mobs of settler extremists attempt to force the civilians out of their homes, clashing with Israel Defense Forces personnel sent to quell the crowds at times.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2025
Izhar Khan/Getty New South Wales Premier Chris Minns had urged Sydney residents not to stay away due to fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year's Eve festivities as a victory.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The small Christian community in the West Bank is facing increasing threats of extremism from various sides, including both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to escape the region.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
The ruin that remained in Afghanistan gave rise to the control of Islamic extremists known as the Taliban.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Adjective
It was widely attributed to the same extremist collective, though not claimed explicitly by the Vulkangruppe.
—Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Local officials have attributed the power outage to an arson attack from The Vulkangruppe (The Volcano Group), a left-wing extremist group.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
The account’s display name referenced Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of the extremist group.
—Gary D. Robertson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
While those groups are not synonymous with ISIS, experts say the incomplete dismantling of extremist networks has left gaps that ISIS cells continue to exploit.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Directed by Shen Ao, the film follows a foreign correspondent, his wife and an engineer who are abducted by an extremist group while on assignment abroad, starring Yang Xiao, Xi Qi and Simon Yam.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Dec. 2025
The other geopolitical concern on the agenda Monday was Syria, as its new president, Ahmed al Sharaa, a former al Qaeda jihadist who helped topple his predecessor, Bashar Assad, grapples with more extremist forces in his country.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
But experts tell us that extremist groups in Nigeria have been indiscriminate in their violence.
—ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
Nigeria’s government has previously said in response to Trump’s criticisms that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremist groups.
—Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
Noun
In Africa, extremists exploit ungoverned water scarcity to recruit and control populations.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil-rights group, has designated Tuberville as an anti-Muslim extremist based on past statements.
—Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group, has designated Tuberville as an anti-Muslim extremist based on past statements.
—Safiyah Riddle, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
With no escape, the young band members (played by Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner) are forced into a vicious fight for survival against merciless extremists, led by Patrick Stewart's sinister Darcy Banker.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has continued to escalate for months as mobs of settler extremists attempt to force the civilians out of their homes, clashing with Israel Defense Forces personnel sent to quell the crowds at times.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2025
Izhar Khan/Getty New South Wales Premier Chris Minns had urged Sydney residents not to stay away due to fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year's Eve festivities as a victory.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The small Christian community in the West Bank is facing increasing threats of extremism from various sides, including both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to escape the region.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
The ruin that remained in Afghanistan gave rise to the control of Islamic extremists known as the Taliban.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
-
In another era, this might have been a charming mid-budget movie; in the streaming age, the structure feels almost radical in its restraint.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The President and his advisers have called those opposing them in Minnesota radical lunatics, domestic terrorists, and outright insurrectionists.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The film, widely considered to be a top contender for the best picture Oscar, follows a onetime revolutionary played by Leonardo DiCaprio who must revisit his old life after his daughter is kidnapped by a former foe.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The first generation of Iranian revolutionaries—including octogenarians like Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—have long fooled themselves about their future.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The rabid student sections for both teams made for an exciting atmosphere.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Large stadiums usually reserved for soccer leagues in London, Dublin, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich are filled with rabid fans at game time.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
