1
as in segregation
the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others
Hitler's declaration of his belief in a "master race" provided irrefutable proof to the world of the inherent and dangerous racism of the Nazi movement
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
the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most deplorable incidents of racism that occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1960s
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of racism
Sometimes the evidence of racism’s history is right underfoot.
—
USA Today, 17 Aug. 2020
Not speaking about or not gaining knowledge of racism's existence -- that stunts the progress of equality.
—S. Mitra Kalita, CNN, 9 July 2020
Emerging data shows that COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority communities, likely due to racism’s downstream effects on socioeconomic opportunities, health outcomes and insurance coverage.
—Isobel Rosenthal, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
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
See All Example Sentences for racism
USA Today, 17 Aug. 2020
Not speaking about or not gaining knowledge of racism's existence -- that stunts the progress of equality.
—S. Mitra Kalita, CNN, 9 July 2020
Emerging data shows that COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority communities, likely due to racism’s downstream effects on socioeconomic opportunities, health outcomes and insurance coverage.
—Isobel Rosenthal, Scientific American, 17 June 2020
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
See All Example Sentences for racism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racism
Noun
-
Verbatim Zora Neale Hurston In a controversial letter, the versatile author expressed frustration with critics of segregation.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Oct. 2025
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The district previously applied for the grant in 2020 but was denied in part due to its lack of effort in reducing segregation in magnet programs.—
Krista Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While her wit, charm and determination bring her attention, her collapsing health, social prejudice and family tensions conspire against her.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
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The kind having to do with allegations that concertgoers were not warned about uncomfortably hot venues used in Madonna’s Celebration Tour concert that Crawshaw-Sparks had dismissed with prejudice on behalf of the pop star and Live Nation.—
Claudia Rosenbaum,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racism. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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