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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
Adjective
The report added that Holly made posts on social media displaying his gear, which were decorated with extremist symbols and inspired by equipment used by previous mass shooters. Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025 Each of these attacks was committed with extremist, white-supremacist motivations. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 16 Sep. 2025 Mainstream German parties maintain the AfD promotes extremist positions, including opposition to immigration and skepticism of European integration. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025 Desmond Holly’s focus on the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School is a central feature of these online extremist ecosystems, an expert said. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025 Researchers also warn that unchecked circulation of graphic violence can desensitize viewers and, in some cases, encourage extremist responses. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025 This online presence includes social media platforms used for propaganda, communication and recruitment, creating a challenge for governments and platforms alike to manage the spread of extremist content in hopes of preventing potential violence. Richard Frankel, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025 Companies should set—and follow—a long-overdue industry standard to tackle terrorist and extremist content that is not protected by the First Amendment. Steven Stalinsky, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Now outraged viewers are attacking the press for supposedly attempting to bury the story and using the video to push extremist views and propaganda. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
TikTok, Bluesky, Substack, the gaming platform Discord and other new players, big and small, can all learn from past policies for keeping extremists off the Internet—and return to those content moderation roots. Steven Stalinsky, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 High-profile extremists of the time such as Richard Butler, Robert Mathews and David Lane supported the plan. Paul J. Becker, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025 The Middle Belt and northern states are especially volatile, with Islamic militant groups like Boko Haram, Fulani extremists and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) targeting Christian communities through mass killings, kidnappings and church burnings. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025 Only the liberals and the extremists do that. Tom Tapp, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025 These extremists don’t give a damn about public safety. Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025 Yehuda Cohen, the father of Nimrod Cohen, an Israeli soldier held in Gaza, said from the boat that Netanyahu is prolonging the war to satisfy extremists in his governing coalition. Melanie Lidman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025 The same extremists, ranging from Max Blumenthal on the left to Candace Owens on the right, have ramped up the conspiracy-mongering now that Epstein is in the headlines again. Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
  • There’s something radical about physical community.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In this, Castro not only gestures at the social crisis that’s driving so many men toward radical ideas but also helps explain its causes and repercussions.
    Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Further east, the Russian revolutionaries of 1917 adopted a utopian faith in material progress and science.
    Sonja Fritzsche, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The movie follows DiCaprio as a former political revolutionary named Bob Ferguson who goes on the run when a military leader named Steven Lockjaw (Penn) renews his search for Ferguson and his family.
    Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Ketamine therapy’s most common short-term side effects are dizziness and nausea, but in extreme cases, long-term, heavy use of ketamine is associated with memory problems, gastrointestinal issues, and urinary tract infections, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Tootles’ death disproves this, showing that a hybrid being can die under extreme circumstances.
    Leia Mendoza, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Mom screams like a rabid animal.
    Dr. Sue Varma, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Speaking of being a rabid dog, how did that help you as a producer through production?
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on extremist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!