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
Internally, the adoption of multi-racialism as a policy was designed to diminish—even if, initially, imperceptibly—the social and economic influence of white South Africans, and to displace them, at least partly, by the local petite bourgeoisie.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025
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
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
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
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 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
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025
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
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
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
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racialism
Noun
-
Good parenting can help protect kids from racism’s harmful effects, but what works in person might not work online.—
Alvin Thomas,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Cook’s broader economic research on inequality, innovation, and racism’s effect on invention brings policy relevance that might otherwise go overlooked.—
Kori Hale,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
That’s the bias, that’s the prejudice.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Oct. 2025
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Amidst the outbreak of the 1910 Manchurian Plague, a young Chinese doctor must defy prejudices of both the East and the West to champion his groundbreaking theory of the disease and seek the truth that will heal it.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Battling secession, segregation and riots.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
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After the Norway spruce absorbs soluble gold from the soil via its roots, the resident endophytic bacteria within the tree’s tissues take action, initiating the segregation and solidification of the gold.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racialism. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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