as in rebel
a person who thinks that a nation, state, etc., should separate from another and become independent
A growing group of secessionists are pushing for the independence of the region.
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Recent Examples of secessionist
As analysts have previously told Newsweek, even those critical of the Islamic Republic often rally behind the central government in the face of external threats and secessionist movements.
—
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Juneteenth commemorates the complete enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved African Americans in secessionist states – signed by former President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 19 June 2025
However, most countries are loath to encourage secessionist movements.
—Kate Bartlett, Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2025
For some secessionist groups, this is certainly good news.
—Ryan D. Griffiths, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for secessionist
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Juneteenth commemorates the complete enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved African Americans in secessionist states – signed by former President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 19 June 2025
However, most countries are loath to encourage secessionist movements.
—Kate Bartlett, Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2025
For some secessionist groups, this is certainly good news.
—Ryan D. Griffiths, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for secessionist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secessionist
Noun
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But in a region being fought over by a patchwork of anti-junta rebel groups, the military and pro-military militia – and given the widespread distrust of the Rohingya – information on where exactly his family are, or what will become of them, has not been forthcoming.—
Esha Mitra,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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By the finale, the galactic chessboard is crowded with players—emperors, rebels, prophets, impostors—but as Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) warned in the very first episode, the center cannot hold.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At the end of April 2022, the Russian army moved the Kuindzhi Art Museum's entire collection to a museum in the capital of the Donetsk People's Republic, a separatist and politically unrecognized territory annexed by Russia.—
Yegor Mostovshikov,
The Dial,
9 Sep. 2025
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It was once even attacked with grenades by Muslim separatists in the Philippines in a 1991 terrorist incident that left two evangelists dead.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Although some analysts have suggested Starmer may quietly be pleased with the resignation of his main rival and potential successor, the toppling of Rayner caps off what has been a dreadful summer for Labour, in which the party has lost more ground in the polls to the insurgent Reform UK.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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This might enable a mission which, for example, a Viper is located covertly next to a safe house known to be used by insurgents.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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TikTok, Bluesky, Substack, the gaming platform Discord and other new players, big and small, can all learn from past policies for keeping extremists off the Internet—and return to those content moderation roots.—
Steven Stalinsky,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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High-profile extremists of the time such as Richard Butler, Robert Mathews and David Lane supported the plan.—
Paul J. Becker,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secessionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secessionist. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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