1
as in nationalistic
having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country
most of the articles on the website are nationalist propaganda and not objective by any means
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in patriotic
having or showing love and support for one's country
nationalist fervor is often at its highest when a country is at war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in patriot
one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country
a staunch nationalist who favored any policy that would give the country more power in the international arena
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nationalist
Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Compared with a decade ago, nationalist sentiment has less influence on consumer behavior, analysts said.
—Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
In this case, the maximum dream of any Latin American revolutionary nationalist is to stand up to el imperio, to the Yankee Empire itself.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nationalist
Adjective
Meloni, meanwhile, rose to power from Italy’s nationalist right.
—Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Compared with a decade ago, nationalist sentiment has less influence on consumer behavior, analysts said.
—Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Right-wing nationalists may well secure power in some big and important European countries, a development driven partly by dismay about mass immigration, and partly by economic stagnation.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
In this case, the maximum dream of any Latin American revolutionary nationalist is to stand up to el imperio, to the Yankee Empire itself.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nationalist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationalist
Adjective
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The Russian delegation to Geneva was led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin known for his ultraconservative and nationalistic messaging.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Drunken heckling of a nationalistic speech in Peter Pan also acts as a reminder that the novel’s world exists in the shadow of history.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Observed on the third Monday of February each year, the special day is celebrated through patriotic parades, historical reenactments, and readings of major presidential speeches, including Washington’s Farewell Address.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
14 Feb. 2026
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Such nuance appears to have violated the more patriotic version of history that the government seeks to instill.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Let the lyrics from this wondrous patriot extravaganza (not to be confused with the Super Bowl itself, a Patriot blowout) explain it to you!—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
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These immigration and customs enforcement officers are red-blooded American patriots doing a tough job to keep our nation safe.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sacco knows better than most that political chauvinists of all kinds can point to past moments of injury and humiliation to justify any current cruelty or authoritarian project—an especially powerful appeal when those historical injustices are real.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
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King’s straight-sets triumph over the braggadocious chauvinist wasn’t much in doubt once the players were on the court, though there was plenty of speculation leading up to the match.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nationalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationalist. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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