as in partial
inclined to favor one side over another
a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also partizan
1
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in militant
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sectarian
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices
she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of partisan
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The White House has repeatedly pushed to halt the flow of billions of dollars to California and other states led by Democrats, a strategy that has sharpened partisan tensions and expanded the scope of California’s legal fight against the administration.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
The perception is that only like-minded DeSantis partisans, preferably with inside connections, need apply.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Adjective
That viewpoint crossed geographic and partisan lines.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The White House has repeatedly pushed to halt the flow of billions of dollars to California and other states led by Democrats, a strategy that has sharpened partisan tensions and expanded the scope of California’s legal fight against the administration.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Reaching new voters Most Democrats accept Texas’ GOP tilt, saying their best chance lies in attracting more younger voters, disaffected nonvoters, teachers, service workers and soft partisans who often skip nonpresidential elections.
—Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
The perception is that only like-minded DeSantis partisans, preferably with inside connections, need apply.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
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The council also approved the appointment of Josiah Ben-Oni Graham to fill a partial-term vacancy that expires in November.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
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But as the title character and a partial avatar for Williamson — who had similarly spent his own teen years dreamily pining and aspiring to be a filmmaker — Dawson was the boy-next-door pillar around which the show orbited.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Angel City was launched in Culver City in 1997 by Michael Bowe, an early adherent of the craft beer movement.—
Richard Guzman,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Some soaking adherents tightly gripped iron chains secured to concrete stairs so the fast-rushing flow from the Himalayas wouldn’t fatally sweep them downstream.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The inquiry commission pointed to comments Herzog made less than a week after Hamas militants killed and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis on October 7, 2023.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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Pakistan has frequently accused Afghanistan, where the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, of harboring militants, including members of the Pakistani Taliban.—
MUNIR AHMED,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.—
Joshua Alston,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2023
Adjective
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The hostile bid came as Nexstar Media Group agreed to acquire Tegna, in a $6 billion transaction that would run afoul of the FCC’s 39% ownership cap; Nexstar has filed for a waiver to the ownership cap.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
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The 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer’s celebration of Hispanic culture could hardly have arrived at a more hostile moment for Latinos.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The pair leaned in close for a casual selfie, sharing the beach day with her followers.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The couple became fan-favorites on Love Island, and followers have become very invested in seeing their relationship succeed.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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To now endure censure by overzealous anti-Pretendian crusaders, and banishment by bureaucratic tribal decrees and reactionary blood-quantum rules, feels particularly bitter.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
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For now, privacy crusaders are left to wait.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Little has been accomplished, and Labour’s woes seem likely to benefit the Reform Party, a new nationalist, populist outfit led by the Brexit instigator Nigel Farage.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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