POPULIST Synonyms: 8 Similar and Opposite Words

populist

noun

Definition of populist

as in socialist

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

snob
snoot

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 populist Support for the right-wing populist had eroded since 16 people were killed in 2024 when a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Novi Sad. — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 The attack comes as Hollywood donors line up behind the 37-year-old Democratic populist. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 The front-runners in the French presidential election in the spring are from the populist far right and far left. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 Villegas, a populist, is hoping his message of progressive change and growing voter frustration will put an end to that streak. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for populist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for populist

socialist

Noun

Masterson, who has spent the last six years thwarting Kelly’s will as a top legislative leader in Topeka’s Republican supermajority, is now highlighting examples of his bipartisan achievements and describing Holscher as a socialist.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026
On election night in 2025, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani began his victory speech by quoting Eugene Debs, one of the most prominent socialists in 20th-century American politics.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of socialist

Browse Nearby Words

populating

populist

populists

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Populist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populist. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of populist

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effrontery

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes