as in nativism
fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners
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Recent Examples of xenophobia
Even as a not insignificant portion of the nation draws a blanket of isolationism, xenophobia and monolinguality ever more tightly around itself, another faction has grown more interested in what’s happening around the world, and more accepting of TV shows and movies not in English.
—
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
The positive feelings people have toward their community translate directly into civic engagement, without the risk of increasing negative feelings such as jingoism or xenophobia.
—Sean Richey, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
At a time when much pronatalist rhetoric veers into xenophobia and misogyny, Spears and Geruso offer a welcome intervention.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
In many respects the most effective (and rational) response was to adopt a visceral suspicion of foreigners, and some communities took this xenophobia to its ultimate conclusion.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for xenophobia
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
The positive feelings people have toward their community translate directly into civic engagement, without the risk of increasing negative feelings such as jingoism or xenophobia.
—Sean Richey, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
At a time when much pronatalist rhetoric veers into xenophobia and misogyny, Spears and Geruso offer a welcome intervention.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
In many respects the most effective (and rational) response was to adopt a visceral suspicion of foreigners, and some communities took this xenophobia to its ultimate conclusion.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for xenophobia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for xenophobia
Noun
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Artists took imagery and iconography from Regionalism—think Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton—which leaned toward heartland nativism.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
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Not a Klansman from the era of lynching, but far from a typical conservative of the nineties and aughts, Peter effectively shifted Republicans away from neoconservatism and toward nativism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In much of Europe, by contrast, the chauvinism that had fuelled two devastating World Wars rendered such displays largely taboo after Hitler’s defeat.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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Her stories are well-told, relevant and often searing, detailing an elementary-school teacher’s slight, a hometown swimming-pool reckoning and chauvinism from an Ivy League club.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This was an era of over-the-top displays of patriotism and even jingoism; the phrase Let’s make America great again was in.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
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Tapping into national pride — dare say jingoism — might have done the trick.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Xenophobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/xenophobia. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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