extremism

American  

[ik-stree-miz-uhm] / ɪkˈstri mɪz əm /

noun

1. a tendency or disposition to go to extremes or an instance of going to extremes, especially in political matters.

   leftist extremism; the extremism of the Nazis.

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Etymology

Origin of extremism

First recorded in 1860–65; extreme + -ism

Explanation

Extremism is a political or religious philosophy that's very far from the mainstream. Because it's so different from the average person's politics. being an anarchist is often considered extremism. When someone's beliefs are considered to be extreme by most people — if they think, for example, that people should be executed for eating certain foods or using certain words — that person is said to practice extremism, and is labelled an extremist. These words are almost always used in a derogatory way, by people who see themselves as centrist or moderate. The Latin root is extremus, "outermost" or "farthest."

Example Sentences

While the intent may have been to show that extremism can hide in plain sight, the effect, critics of the stories argued, was normalization.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

“One Battle After Another” is a satirical action-thriller with an intense and timely exploration of American extremism that stars DiCaprio as a retired revolutionary forced back into action.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

“We’re at a pivotal point,” said Josh Roose, an associate professor of politics at Deakin University and an expert in violent extremism and terrorism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Its aim, the acting president said, is to "heal the wounds of political confrontation, violence, and extremism".

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026

“We will defeat the forces of extremism and militancy with the power of the people,” she declared.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

Related Words

• bigotry
• hatred
• intolerance
• zeal
• zealotry