extremist

American  

[ik-stree-mist] / ɪkˈstri mɪst /

noun

1. a person who goes to extremes, especially in political matters.

2. a supporter or advocate of extreme doctrines or practices.

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adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to extremists.

extremist British  

/ ɪkˈstriːmɪst /

noun

1. a person who favours or resorts to immoderate, uncompromising, or fanatical methods or behaviour, esp in being politically radical

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by immoderate or excessive actions, opinions, etc

Other Word Forms

• extremism noun

Etymology

Origin of extremist

First recorded in 1840–50; extreme + -ist

Example Sentences

Rwanda denies supporting M23 and says its troops are in eastern Congo for “defensive measures” against a rebel group formed by Hutu extremists who orchestrated the 1994 genocide in Rwanda before fleeing to Congo.

From The Wall Street Journal

Walid Saadaoui came to the attention of the authorities when he used 10 Facebook accounts, none of which were in his own name, to spread a torrent of Islamist extremist views.

From BBC

He had came to the attention of the authorities when he used 10 Facebook accounts, none of which were in his own name, to spread a torrent of Islamic extremist views.

From BBC

The base helped the U.S. put pressure on the extremists in a broad stretch of desert near Syria’s borderlands with Jordan and Iraq.

From The Wall Street Journal

He added: "Anyone espousing extremist views or who expresses support for terrorism, or racial or religious hatred of any kind, including antisemitism, who is not a British citizen, should be removed from this country."

From BBC

Related Words

• fanatic
• zealot