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
-
Moore said Wilson passionately advocated for the program over the past decades in Brookfield schools, as segregation can still be prevalent.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Never mind white World War Two soldiers’ relationship to segregation within the army itself, and ensuring that Black veterans couldn’t be entitled to the same VA resources, couldn’t move into the same neighborhoods that white veterans moved into.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The amounts of prejudice that are built up in those Kingdom Halls, unbelievable.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The case was dismissed with prejudice last week after a settlement was reached, according to court records.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racism. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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