1
as in racism
the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others
the racialism of some of the nation's founders seems to contradict their professed belief that "all men are created equal"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prejudice
hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race
an ugly incident of racialism that campus police are investigating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of racialism
This seed of scientific racialism waxed and reached its peaks in the years around 1900, before waning in the 20th century.
—
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Aug. 2011
In our day, he is reviled for his imperialism, racialism, and even his humorously excessive appreciation for a fine cigar.
—Peter J. Travers, National Review, 7 Dec. 2021
King never seriously entertained the utopian ideas of Black emigration or the romantic racialism of Muhammad’s Black nationalism.
—Brandon M. Terry, The New York Review of Books, 11 Mar. 2021
Today, certain people talk about racialism, indigenism, and decolonial theories, but beneath these terms hateful and fanatical agitators want a race war.
—Harrison Stetler, The New Republic, 24 May 2021
Post-racialism is the promise of working to move beyond the perils of the Black condition in America, an achievement of Black acceleration and exceptionalism; when transcending race was aspirational and thought of to be wholly possible.
—Taylor Renee Aldridge, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 Feb. 2021
Hawley describes Roosevelt as driven by a combination of warrior republicanism and crude racialism, which at times led him to adopt autocratic racial theories and dreams of imperial conquest.
—Zaid Jilani, Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2020
This fusion of racial grievance and post-racialism created a toxic brew, poisonous to the ongoing efforts to contest white supremacy and protective of the invidious status quo that the Voting Rights Act had tried to interrupt.
—Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2020
Conservatives claimed the report recklessly lumped legitimate politics together with violent threats, and progressives refused to muster a fight with the Obama administration about racist violence during the short reign of post-racialism.
—Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2020
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Aug. 2011
In our day, he is reviled for his imperialism, racialism, and even his humorously excessive appreciation for a fine cigar.
—Peter J. Travers, National Review, 7 Dec. 2021
King never seriously entertained the utopian ideas of Black emigration or the romantic racialism of Muhammad’s Black nationalism.
—Brandon M. Terry, The New York Review of Books, 11 Mar. 2021
Today, certain people talk about racialism, indigenism, and decolonial theories, but beneath these terms hateful and fanatical agitators want a race war.
—Harrison Stetler, The New Republic, 24 May 2021
Post-racialism is the promise of working to move beyond the perils of the Black condition in America, an achievement of Black acceleration and exceptionalism; when transcending race was aspirational and thought of to be wholly possible.
—Taylor Renee Aldridge, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 Feb. 2021
Hawley describes Roosevelt as driven by a combination of warrior republicanism and crude racialism, which at times led him to adopt autocratic racial theories and dreams of imperial conquest.
—Zaid Jilani, Washington Examiner, 31 Dec. 2020
This fusion of racial grievance and post-racialism created a toxic brew, poisonous to the ongoing efforts to contest white supremacy and protective of the invidious status quo that the Voting Rights Act had tried to interrupt.
—Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2020
Conservatives claimed the report recklessly lumped legitimate politics together with violent threats, and progressives refused to muster a fight with the Obama administration about racist violence during the short reign of post-racialism.
—Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racialism
Noun
-
The book made theorizing about genetic differences between the races acceptable among certain corners of the mainstream right, paving the way for scientific racism’s resurgence in the Trump era.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
-
In his remarks, Biden praised Till-Mobley for her courage in ensuring the world would see racism's horrors in her son's maimed body.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA TODAY,
25 July 2023
Noun
-
Anti-Japanese prejudice from the war extended to any Asians.—
Jeff Suess,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
-
Warnings, repeatedly dismissed with prejudice, may eventually stop arriving.—
David V. Gioe,
Foreign Affairs,
2 July 2025
Noun
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What to do: Build your team now: —Commercial broker —Real estate attorney —CPA or tax strategist —Cost segregation firm —Lender or SBA contact Deals that close smoothly in December started planning in August.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
12 July 2025
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Occupational segregation is a significant roadblock to equal pay for Black women.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racialism. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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