as in loyalists
a person who loves his or her country and supports its interests and policies
the contention that true patriots would be willing to do anything for their country
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Recent Examples of patriots
These immigration and customs enforcement officers are red-blooded American patriots doing a tough job to keep our nation safe.
—
Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 8 Jan. 2026
The lunatics who attacked the seat of government to try to change the outcome of a free and fair election are not patriots.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
At the core of this extremism is the dangerous view that the founders viewed aggrieved citizens who attack the government through armed violence as righteous patriots, rather than the enemies of the state.
—Douglas Letter, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
The J6ers were not insurrectionists, traitors, and miscreants but patriots, heroes, and innocents.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The American patriots who showed up on January 6 were doing their duty as citizens to ensure the will of the people was exercised.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Another man, older by six years, argued with fellow patriots in a Hong Kong café.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Charlie was one of the greatest young patriots this country has ever seen.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Boston is the city where patriots rebelled against the English Crown and began the American Revolution.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 8 Jan. 2026
The lunatics who attacked the seat of government to try to change the outcome of a free and fair election are not patriots.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026
At the core of this extremism is the dangerous view that the founders viewed aggrieved citizens who attack the government through armed violence as righteous patriots, rather than the enemies of the state.
—Douglas Letter, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
The J6ers were not insurrectionists, traitors, and miscreants but patriots, heroes, and innocents.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The American patriots who showed up on January 6 were doing their duty as citizens to ensure the will of the people was exercised.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Another man, older by six years, argued with fellow patriots in a Hong Kong café.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Charlie was one of the greatest young patriots this country has ever seen.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Boston is the city where patriots rebelled against the English Crown and began the American Revolution.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriots
Noun
-
Though hiring loyalists wasn’t a new practice, firing current workers was uncharted territory.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Payton loyalists always have a place, but there’s no real reason for Denver to bring back Burton.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The rise of unabashed Christian nationalists is their legacy.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
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
“Patriots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriots. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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