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
Smotrich urges removing Palestinian Authority control Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for extremist views, said the attack shows Israel needs to restrict the Palestinians’ freedom of movement in the West Bank. — Shlomo Mor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Paporakis had hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition and a manifesto expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, police said. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Lawyers for victims’ relatives claim that a group of extremist religious leaders in Saudi Arabia aided the hijackers. — Tom Winter, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026 Netanyahu’s uncompromising stance helps placate his extremist coalition partners, justify permanent Israeli military control over Gaza, and indefinitely forestall any political accommodation with the Palestinians. — Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 Frances’ data research has already turned up a bunch of similar cases, including the alarming statistic that 64 percent of Facebook users who recently joined extremist groups were directed to those organizations’ sites by the algorithm. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 Rosen noted that in 2025 after being alerted to his sharing of extremist material online, the FBI actually went to Mohamud's house to attempt to speak to his parents but were rebuffed. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 The disclosure could deepen scrutiny of the security failures surrounding the flight after officials revealed the Omani co-pilot had previously been barred from flying in his home country over concerns about his extremist views. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026 The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, a Middle Eastern source told Fox News, adding that he was barred from flying with Oman Air — his country's airline — in 2024 due to concerns about extremist views. — Michael Sinkewicz , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
Much of that money has been used for TV advertisements and mailers portraying Vang as an extremist, highlighting her association with Piker and her refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Struck by the negative representations of Arabs in the media, Odeh was appointed regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, whose East Coast offices had been targeted by extremists in 1985. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 For close to a decade, the livestreaming extremist has led a growing cohort of young men toward what’s looked like the insidious post-Trump future of the right. — Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026 In Nice, far-right extremists fought with demonstrators downtown and 11 people were arrested, regional authorities said. — Thomas Adamson, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 Outraged Jewish groups are now demanding organizers answer for bankrolling violent extremists. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 The blueprint included the recruitment of mercenaries and exploiting the grievances of disaffected citizens, from religious fanatics and extremists to soccer fans. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, while Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the militant Islamic State group. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Muslim students should not be expected to answer for extremists who claim to speak in the name of Islam. — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
  • Tom Rhys Harries stars as an actor who turns to AI and nanotechnology for a radical solution after a mob boss disfigures him.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Methods once associated with organized radical militants have spread to a younger generation.
    — Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Mao Zedong was a revolutionary who led the Communist Party during its crucial early days, winning a civil war against the ruling Nationalist Party in China, and then founding the modern-day People’s Republic of China.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Like his fellow revolutionaries, Jefferson recoiled from such aspects of empire, past and present.
    — Jackson Lears, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Many of these materials are made from oil, which emits pollutants when burned, driving climate change and fueling extreme weather.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The flooding comes after extreme weather hit the Southwest throughout the week.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, Cartwright returns to his deceased grandfather’s home thrilled to see that Baker has successfully evaded both the Russian assassins and MI5’s own rabid dogs.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Many rabid fans from other cities would be glad to trade places with them anytime.
    — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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