Definition of heresiarchnext
as in dissenter
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs his about-face on welfare reform has led him to be seen as a heresiarch among his party's faithful

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for heresiarch
Noun
  • Examples include dissenters citing anti-war sentiments or disapproval of the government’s handling of the Epstein files.
    Maximilian Brichta, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Others have been prosecuted under a counterterrorism law that carries a potential death penalty and has been used to target political and armed opponents, journalists and other dissenters.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Nabavi has spent more than a decade in prison for his activism and is one of many dissidents who believe the war will not bring about positive outcomes for Iranians.
    Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Iran’s government also has a long history of targeting dissidents abroad.
    Adam Geller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Then there’s Lola Wines, best known for its fresh, esoteric white wines, like Malvasia Bianca and Fiano, and the renegade Tank Garage Winery, beloved by millennials and Gen-Z for its one-off, offbeat blends with irreverent names.
    Jess Lander, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
  • In an op-ed for Nikkei, a former lawmaker and one-time spokesperson for the previous Taiwanese president warned that the island — which China claims as a renegade province — was not doing enough to strengthen its energy independence and defense capabilities in the face of mainland pressure.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
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.

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“Heresiarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heresiarch. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

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