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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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 suspect is allegedly associated with nihilistic violent extremist ideology. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026 Connecticut officials are sounding the alarm about violent online extremist groups that are targeting children and vulnerable individuals. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026 Evidence recovered during the investigation included multiple books related to extremist ideologies — spanning right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government beliefs — as well as explosive materials and components, according to McMahill. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026 Multiple books were found in Maloney's hotel room related to extremist ideologies, including right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government ideology. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026 Roj camp houses about 2,200 people from around 50 nationalities, mostly women and children, who have supposed links to the extremist group. ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026 This occurred precisely as extremist networks spread across the Sahel and limited the tools available to confront these groups. Yusuf Tuggar, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026 Based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article, the limited series follows an undercover investigator, played by Chastain, who infiltrates domestic extremist groups to thwart catastrophic large-scale attacks. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026 The incumbent has also enabled our extremist County Judge Tim O’Hare in his attacks on voting rights, as his Vice-chair on the Tarrant County Elections Commission. Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
The gorgeous, haunting animation allows the filmmakers to precisely recreate the Lebanese battlefield and grapple with the events that led to the infamous massacre of Palestinian refugees at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camp outside of Beirut at the hands of Lebanese Christian extremists. David Faris, TheWeek, 24 Feb. 2026 Conservatives will complain that Democratic Party leaders have often tolerated their own extremists. Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2026 Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles FBI field office, said the number of nihilistic violent extremists targeting children is growing nationwide. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026 Of 57 deaths in France linked to violence among political groups between 1986 and 2017, all but five were caused by right-wing extremists, according to sociology professor Isabelle Sommier. Tim Lister, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026 The Boston field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning parents about the rise of online extremists targeting children. Louisa Moller, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026 During the battles against IS, thousands of extremists and tens of thousands of women and children linked to them were taken to detention camps. ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026 More than 150 Christians were abducted from three churches in another part of Kaduna in January before being released this week while at least 160 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by Islamic extremists in Kwara state for refusing to be indoctrinated. Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026 All of this may sound hopelessly naive when extremists celebrate brutality. Emily Chamlee-Wright, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremist
Adjective
  • As filmed by Depardon, the clashes reveal a radical disconnect between the representatives of the law and the people accused of breaking it.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
  • And that was when his wife sat him down and delivered a radical suggestion.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Supporters call his work revolutionary.
    Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The eighteenth-century revolutionary’s horse remained, riderless, backgrounded by bright-green leaves and a tangy blue sky.
    Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Because the engine can be controlled during flight, the system does not require the expensive thermal protection systems typically associated with extreme heat loads at hypersonic speeds.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 Feb. 2026
  • The Northeast is reeling from extreme snowfall and powerful winds that slammed the region overnight Sunday and throughout the day Monday, prompting blizzard conditions as more than two feet of snow blanketed several states.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The news broke the hearts of the rabid fans eager to see a more brutalist Michelangelo on a vengeance mission on the big screen.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
  • In its place, frustration has grown within a rabid fan base that was hoping the front office would find a way to add Giannis Antetokounmpo or another big star to help fill the large void that Butler’s injury created.
    Nick Friedell, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extremist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremist. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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