as in patriots
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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Recent Examples of nationalists
The real divide in Europe’s tech debate, then, is not between optimists and pessimists, or nationalists and globalists.
—
Wolfgang Oels, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
His visit is the latest olive branch from Washington to a network of hard-line nationalists across Europe, with Vice President JD Vance shattering norms last year by meeting with leaders from Germany’s far-right AfD party.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Schwörer noted that in Spain or Portugal, the right-wing nationalists might defend the right to hunt and hold a bullfight.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
That title goes to the government of messianic zealots, Arab-hating nationalists and anti-modern ultra-Orthodox Israelis put together by Netanyahu to keep himself in power.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Many Christian nationalists believe in erasing the boundaries between church and state, Andrew Whitehead, an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, previously told USA TODAY.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
And also to warn about bloodshed if civil war follows regime change, bloodshed between nationalists and those who’ve had enough of being tied to a constantly unstable country.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
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
He’s marked as a dissident for responding with defiance to lesson plans mandated by federal authorities after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that teach youngsters to become Russian nationalists.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Wolfgang Oels, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
His visit is the latest olive branch from Washington to a network of hard-line nationalists across Europe, with Vice President JD Vance shattering norms last year by meeting with leaders from Germany’s far-right AfD party.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Schwörer noted that in Spain or Portugal, the right-wing nationalists might defend the right to hunt and hold a bullfight.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
That title goes to the government of messianic zealots, Arab-hating nationalists and anti-modern ultra-Orthodox Israelis put together by Netanyahu to keep himself in power.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Many Christian nationalists believe in erasing the boundaries between church and state, Andrew Whitehead, an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, previously told USA TODAY.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
And also to warn about bloodshed if civil war follows regime change, bloodshed between nationalists and those who’ve had enough of being tied to a constantly unstable country.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
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
He’s marked as a dissident for responding with defiance to lesson plans mandated by federal authorities after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that teach youngsters to become Russian nationalists.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationalists
Noun
-
All of this, and so much more, is the enduring legacy, unmatched glory of the hard-working patriots who built and defended this country and who still carry the hopes and freedoms on all of humanity’s backs.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
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All of this and so much more is the enduring legacy, unmatched glory of the hardworking patriots who built and defended this country and who still carry the hopes and freedoms on all of humanity's backs.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
But Saddam Hussein had more than enough firepower — and enough loyalists — to crush the rebellion, retain power for more than a decade and kill tens of thousands of his opponents.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
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At the same time, large numbers of loyalists remain tied to the system for religious, social or patronage reasons.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nationalists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationalists. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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