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
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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
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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
-
Known as the Harlem of the West, the Douglas Hotel was complete with the Creole Palace nightclub where Black performers in the 1930s and ’40s could perform during the years of segregation.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Despite facing racial segregation and discrimination, Allen became the first in her family to finish high school and was one of the first Black women to graduate from Nazareth College.—
Matthew Glowicki,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When Atsu was first revealed as the game’s protagonist, reactionaries jumped to disavow the sequel, citing bad-faith reasoning that failed to hide their prejudices.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
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The motion was filed without prejudice, meaning DHS could choose to pursue Hernandez’s removal in the future.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacbee.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racism. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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