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
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Recent Examples of partisan
Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Agriculture and feeding programs are supposed to be addressed in legislation every five years, but partisan conflict on Capitol Hill has made that impossible.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
As one Texas insider explained to me, Cornyn is the national candidate who isn’t exactly loved at home, while Paxton draws adoration from partisans at home who may show up to send a message that what’s happening in Washington is not to their tastes.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Adjective
The American Conservation Coalition, on the other hand, is partisan—and explicitly so.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Agriculture and feeding programs are supposed to be addressed in legislation every five years, but partisan conflict on Capitol Hill has made that impossible.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
Most typically vote like partisans, in favor of their preferred party.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
As one Texas insider explained to me, Cornyn is the national candidate who isn’t exactly loved at home, while Paxton draws adoration from partisans at home who may show up to send a message that what’s happening in Washington is not to their tastes.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
-
The Booker plan also raises taxes on the wealthy as a partial offset for its costs.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
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The hearing came as the monthlong partial shutdown has started to cause widespread problems for travelers, and Transportation Safety Administration screeners are forced to work without receiving paychecks.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Leftism thus constitutes an ongoing search for new causes to fight on behalf of, in a way that mobilizes adherents and creates solidarity among them.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Both romantic trends have adherents who spin their retreat from status quo romance as a kind of liberation from modern expectations, and who position their marital arrangement as the logical extension of a deeper political project.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Disappointment and mistrust of these authorities led to the emergence of armed militants who kidnapped oil workers and sabotaged installations as a means of gaining access to oil resources.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Some critics also blamed the hard left for fueling tensions after a far-right militant was beaten to death in the city of Lyon last month.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 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
-
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
-
Preparing well as a team is the Tommies’ primary order of business until the puck is dropped in what is sure to be a hostile environment for the visitors.—
Dean Spiros,
Twin Cities,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Later that year, local outlet Washington City Paper also reported on allegations of a hostile work environment under Pettigrew.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Most of his followers are locals or close to local.—
Max Darrow,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Texas contends Villarreal gained Facebook followers by getting police officers to tell her the identities of a person who killed himself by jumping off a Laredo overpass and of a family involved in a car accident.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Unfortunately, the garbage that RFK spewed during his time as a private sector anti-vaccine crusader and is now trying to make government policy as the nation’s top public health official has had vaccine skepticism growing nationwide, with deadly consequences.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Stanford University biologist Paul Ehrlich, who died March 13, 2026, in Palo Alto, California, was a scientific crusader whose dire predictions about population growth, world hunger and environmental collapse made headlines and sparked controversy for decades.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wilson, its most prominent leader, identifies as a Christian nationalist and preached at the Pentagon in February at Hegseth’s invitation.—
Tiffany Stanley,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Prosecutors, police and FBI officials say Balat and Kayumi, who lived in Philadelphia’s suburbs, drove to New York City on Saturday and joined a throng of counter protesters at a small, anti-Muslim rally organized by the far-right Christian nationalist Jake Lang.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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