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

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Recent Examples of nationalism Anti-Japanese sentiment has simmered in the country since that time, gaining traction in recent years as hyper-nationalism has flourished under Xi, especially on China’s tightly regulated internet. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 With a host nation actively at war with a competing one for the first time in World Cup history, the pitch will be a stage not just for soccer but for grief, resistance and competing nationalism. Shirvin Zeinalzadeh, The Conversation, 11 June 2026 Sometimes it has been connected with Catholic nationalism; at other times it has been promoted as the opposite — as an antidote to the idolatry of the state. ABC News, 10 June 2026 But something about the telecasts from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar kept drawing him back, the passion, the nationalism, the fervor, the intensity, the jubilation, the humanity. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nationalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationalism
patriotism
Noun
  • Some say displaying the flag is more about peer pressure than patriotism.
    Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 29 June 2026
  • For Germans, displays of patriotism are broadly considered gauche, owing to the enduring national guilt from World War II.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Nationalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationalism. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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