nationalists

plural of nationalist
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nationalists The story draws on archaeologists, travelers, and Icelandic nationalists. Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 15 July 2026 Right-wing nationalists exist here, but haven’t made as many inroads as in Germany, France or Britain. Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 14 July 2026 For Thai nationalists, any compromise on the maritime line looks like a concession to Phnom Penh at a moment when compromise is politically toxic. Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 In more recent years, the culture wars waged by India’s ruling Hindu nationalists have complicated the image of Tipu and his father, who some now have recast as bloodthirsty Muslim warlords rather than icons of national resistance. Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026 The Chamber’s work to prevent right-wing nationalists from winning primaries feels like the last gasp of the country club GOP, before the MAGA movement took over. David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 The group at the center of the feud, the UPA, was founded by nationalists loyal to Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026 As the 1956 Suez Crisis helped crystallize an alliance between Arab nationalists and the Soviet Union, this anti-Zionist ideology took root in the Middle East. Adam Louis-Klein, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026 The founder of the Maratha empire who fought against the Mughal dynasty is now a symbol for nationalists remaking the country. Neil MacFarquhar David E. Sanger Atul Loke Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationalists
Noun
  • Debuting during America’s 250th anniversary amidst rising hate crimes, the project shifts the focus from defense to pride, honoring the Jewish patriots, scientists, and cultural icons who have shaped the nation since its founding.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026
  • Most of the symbol is believed to have been torn down by patriots at the onset of the revolution, though the surviving third remains at the church.
    Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • There really are chauvinists out there.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
  • 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
  • Installing loyalists among the citizen regents would be the most obvious way for the White House to exert control over the Smithsonian.
    Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
  • For the ultimate Old Navy loyalists, there’s the All-Access tier, where members earn 25 points per $1 spent, an extended return window, free shipping on orders of $35 or more, and even more perks.
    Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nationalists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationalists. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on nationalists

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster