as in radical
being very far from the center of public opinion
his revolutionist ideas won't get him elected
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in revolutionary
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government
after a long series of weak leaders, the people were ready for a revolutionist who promised to bring sweeping change to the nation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rebel
a person who rises up against authority
historically, revolutionists have generally been young men willing to risk everything, even their lives, in the pursuit of their cause
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Recent Examples of revolutionist
Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
In a country shackled and scarred by race, religion, gender, and class, much of that rationalized and reified by mainline American churches, the Disciples were genial revolutionists offering inclusion, education, and empowerment for those at the margins.
—Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
As the head of China’s Nationalist government, Chiang and his party were trying to establish control in a nation divided among revolutionists, nationalists, Indigenous warlords, and a developing communist army and government.
—Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
Many revolutionists see heavy tank casualties in Ukraine as the key indicator for the tank’s looming obsolescence in the face of newly lethal precision antitank weapons.
—Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2023
Leading that revolt is young revolutionist Luigi (Vincenzo Crea), while much older Silvestro (Luca Lionello) hopes to change things from within, by running for a public office usually held by the gentry.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 June 2023
On the second episode of Broken Bread this season, Choi talks to farm-to-table revolutionist Alice Waters about the importance of slow food.
—Andy Wang, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2022
From the early days of Silicon Valley’s Internet-era revolution, as engineers, designers, and financiers began to recognize the potential of their inventions, sanctimony was a distinct feature of the revolutionists.
—Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2018
Noun
The collection drew inspiration from two seemingly distant sources: a still-life painting of a shirt collar by Joe Brainard, the prolific 1960s New York writer and artist, and a short story by Yu Dafu, the early 20th-century Chinese author and revolutionist.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
In a country shackled and scarred by race, religion, gender, and class, much of that rationalized and reified by mainline American churches, the Disciples were genial revolutionists offering inclusion, education, and empowerment for those at the margins.
—Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
As the head of China’s Nationalist government, Chiang and his party were trying to establish control in a nation divided among revolutionists, nationalists, Indigenous warlords, and a developing communist army and government.
—Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
Many revolutionists see heavy tank casualties in Ukraine as the key indicator for the tank’s looming obsolescence in the face of newly lethal precision antitank weapons.
—Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2023
Leading that revolt is young revolutionist Luigi (Vincenzo Crea), while much older Silvestro (Luca Lionello) hopes to change things from within, by running for a public office usually held by the gentry.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 June 2023
On the second episode of Broken Bread this season, Choi talks to farm-to-table revolutionist Alice Waters about the importance of slow food.
—Andy Wang, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2022
From the early days of Silicon Valley’s Internet-era revolution, as engineers, designers, and financiers began to recognize the potential of their inventions, sanctimony was a distinct feature of the revolutionists.
—Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolutionist
Adjective
-
As filmed by Depardon, the clashes reveal a radical disconnect between the representatives of the law and the people accused of breaking it.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
-
And that was when his wife sat him down and delivered a radical suggestion.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Wonder women in American history Who were most transformative female organizers, creators, activists, innovators, revolutionaries and trailblazers in American history?—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
With that mental reframing, the American (and then French and other) revolutionaries changed not just their own country, but the world.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In 2024, the Kremlin was forced to evacuate and grant asylum to its Syrian ally, Bashar al-Assad, as he was toppled by rebel forces.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Only a few of her captors speak French, so most of her days are spent nonverbally (and Depardon reinforces the isolation by not subtitling the rebels’ dialogue in their native language).—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Massie’s comments shined a new spotlight on Les Wexner, the former owner of Victoria’s Secret, who is one of the most mysterious figures in Epstein’s orbit – a key player in helping the financier’s rise to extreme wealth, whose motivations and ties to Epstein have long been a source of speculation.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
That means potential payoffs but also extreme danger.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the northeast, insurgent groups exploit institutional weaknesses and economic vulnerability.—
Yusuf Tuggar,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Bass, politically bruised over her handling of last year’s devastating Palisades fire, now faces an insurgent campaign from one of the City Council’s savviest players.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Revolutionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolutionist. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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