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
Redistricting, where lawmakers redraw electoral maps for partisan advantage, is not uncommon in the U.S. but typically happens after the census every 10 years. Jack Queen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025 His career at the DOJ ended with a partisan dispute. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
As the climate grows more volatile, even hardened partisans may find their views shifting in the face of unbearable loss. Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Still, despite all that, 4,000 stiff-upper-lipped partisans showed up in Anaheim over the weekend, seeking solace, inspiration and a winning way forward. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
  • This initiates a continuous, adaptive cycle: retrieving data, reasoning over it, taking actions, storing partial outcomes and adjusting future steps.
    Naren Narendran, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Peteski also objected to PBR’s partial joinder in support of the TBN and TCT motion.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Amazon Essentials product line offering everyday low prices continues to gain new adherents and now represents one out of every three units sold.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • There was already a playbook for action, a loyal membership and an understanding that aggressive action would yield new adherents.
    Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • In many cases, the revelations of his work have led to governmental reckonings and legal ramifications, yet Hersh, now 88 and surrounded by boxes of files from decades of tireless work, sees himself not as a crusader but as a citizen just doing his job.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
  • But in their day, Wolff and Anslinger were crusaders, deadly serious and not about to let facts get in the way of their opinions.
    Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • People want to get rid of religious parties, people want to put sectarians behind to build an Iraq for all Iraqis.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015
  • 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
  • The cooperative exercises typically elicit a hostile response from North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who has steadily disapproved of the drills for years.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Their reasons are practical and emotional: 76% cited concern for LGBTQ rights in general, while 71% cited hostile social and political environments.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Thousands of her followers either left memes or surprised reactions to the star's new look with a large majority of her followers questioning if the whole thing was a joke.
    Michelle Lee, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Salgado mentioned her burgeoning social media presence, which included a TikTok account that as of Aug. 20 had more than 105K followers.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Call for return of Alaska to Russia Some Russian nationalists, including politicians, have called for the U.S. to give Alaska back to Russia.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
  • But since then, Dodik has refashioned himself as an unrepentant nationalist, denying the genocide of 8,000 Bosniaks at Srebrenica in 1995, the war’s most notorious massacre, and often meeting with Putin in Moscow.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The screen briefly went black as strange, distorted voices could be heard, hinting at a serious mental shift for the character.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Throughout a boisterous show with countless distorted jam sessions, White shuffled, squealed, stomped and screamed.
    Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.

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