infidel

Definition of infidelnext
as in dissenter
disapproving a person who does not believe in a religion that someone regards as the true religion The theocracy regarded as infidels anyone that did not practice their religion.

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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 infidel In subsequent years, there have been mostly smaller, less deadly strikes that have targeted the government, police and anti-terrorism forces, as well as those considered infidels by militant groups. NPR, 7 Nov. 2025 The ideology of the groups appears to categorize anyone not subscribing to their extremist views as infidels, whether Muslims or Christians. Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025 During the Crusades, the Inquisition, and countless pogroms, Jews were demonized as infidels who refused to abandon their faith, even under threat of death. Avi Weiss, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025 War in Syria When the Syrian civil war erupted in March 2011, Syrian Druze were targeted at times by both the Assad regime, which pressured them to support it, and by Islamist rebel groups that regarded them as infidels. Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for infidel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infidel
Noun
  • Serious or not, secession — or independence, as some prefer to call it — has long been the dream of dissenters, of the discontented and those who feel put upon or politically unrepresented.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The Supreme Court has a lone dissenter, gas prices spike, and the World Cup is missing an icon.
    Melinda Yao, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Not all marketing The renegade spirit isn't all clever marketing.
    Chloe Veltman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • An idea could be forming despite unbelievers.
    Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Furthermore, Christianity was a proselytizing religion, which commanded its followers to bring unbelievers into the fold.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Shailin and her siblings come from a family of dissidents who have long hoped to see the government fall.
    Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Russian dissident Leonid Volkov reported receiving one of the phishing emails.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infidel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infidel. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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