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
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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
-
In a notice of settlement filed last week in US District Court for the Southern District of New York, the parties agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice, with each side to pay its own fees and costs.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2025
-
Yet, those who identify as LGBTQ — especially transgender people — are still fighting battles for the right to exist without prejudice.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
At the dawn of the 20th century, African Americans faced lynch mobs, disenfranchisement, and segregation.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2025
-
Since the 1890s, Inkwell Beach, part of Oak Bluffs Town Beach, has been a summertime sanctuary for Black families seeking reprieve from segregation and discrimination.—
Mariette Williams,
Essence,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racialism. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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