partisan 1 of 2

partisan

2 of 2

noun

variants also partizan
1
2
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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word partisan different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of partisan are adherent, disciple, and follower. While all these words mean "one who gives full loyalty and support to another," partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment.

partisans of the President

When could adherent be used to replace partisan?

The synonyms adherent and partisan are sometimes interchangeable, but adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment.

adherents to Marxism

When might disciple be a better fit than partisan?

While the synonyms disciple and partisan are close in meaning, disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master.

disciples of Gandhi

When can follower be used instead of partisan?

Although the words follower and partisan have much in common, follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another.

an evangelist and his followers

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 partisan
Adjective
Alicia Johnson will become the first Black woman elected to a partisan office statewide in Georgia. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025 And Democrats have howled at Republicans twice using a partisan maneuver to claw back funds that were previously approved on a bipartisan basis. Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
To be a partisan is to live in intellectual bondage. John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025 Partisan advantage Many observers perceive a partisan as well as principled divide on the current court. Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
  • Wallen bowing out of contention might have made that a partial fait accompli, yet Megan Moroney, Ella Langley and Zach Top — all of whom have a major look going into this month’s CMA Awards — were all considered major contenders for the best new artist category.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Below is a partial list of some of the key Grammy categories.
    Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • To symbolize this united centrist front, adherents of The Change fly American flags that have been reconfigured to place the field of stars smack in the middle of the stripes.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Academics cite Wallace’s story as one of the catalysts behind a fringe concept that has spread among adherents to the Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement and is gaining traction at the highest levels of the federal government.
    Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The explosion came less than a day after militants attacked a cadet college in northwestern Pakistan.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • According to Alamgir Mahsud, the local police chief, two of the militants were quickly killed by troops while three militants managed to enter the compound before being cornered in an administrative block.
    NPR, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • There are guns, horses, ghosts, a primal struggle for survival in hostile terrain, family feuds and a steadily intensifying sense of mortal threat, as Old Porch’s ambition and psychopathy escalate the drama.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Fire department suffering low morale When Washington was fired, City Manager Sheryl Long blamed him for creating a hostile work environment for female firefighters and for failing to improve the department's workplace culture.
    Aaron Valdez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Cissé, who was not a member of the military, sometimes posted images of herself in military fatigues to her more than 140,00 TikTok followers, which is thought to have drawn attention from the armed men.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Since the government shutdown delayed funding for SNAP in November, Curry has been sharing strategies on how to find free or affordable food with his social media followers.
    NPR, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Is Lee Raybon a righteous crusader for truth and justice or a dangerously delusional white savior?
    Judy Berman, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Austin’s disappearance transformed his mother, Debra, into a geopolitical crusader overnight.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For decades, Chinese nationalists decried the inability of their leadership to stand up to other world powers.
    Kerry Brown, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Born in 1841, Longo’s upbringing by devout Catholic parents took place as the church faced pushback from Italian nationalists, as noted by Catholic News Agency.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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