Definition of nationalismnext
1
as in patriotism
excessive favoritism towards one's own country Nazism's almost epic nationalism appealed to downtrodden Germans still suffering the humiliation of being defeated in World War I

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2

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 nationalism Much as in the pre-1914 world, nationalisms of various kinds play an increasing role in today’s politics. Literary Hub, 27 May 2026 During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism. Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026 Lorca was murdered in 1936 by right-wing militias amid the rising nationalism that led to the Spanish Civil War of 1936-9. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026 The Times also identified social media accounts, believed to be used by one of the shooters, that contained content that idolized school shootings, white nationalism and neo-Nazi terrorism and memes from the online far-right community. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for nationalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationalism
patriotism
Noun
  • The documents, leaked to USA TODAY by a source inside Patriot Front, show how the group finds new recruits, choreographs its rallies and events, and obscures its true mission behind language stressing patriotism and plausible deniability.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
  • The 1930s and early 1940s were a heyday of patriotism on the broad left.
    Michael Kazin, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Nationalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationalism. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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