extremist

[ik-stree-mist]

noun

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

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

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to extremists.

extremist

/ ɪkˈstriːmɪst /

noun

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

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• extremism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of extremist¹

First recorded in 1840–50; extreme + -ist

Example Sentences

It also has little on the West Bank, where Israel has ramped up construction and extremist settlers have attacked Palestinians in the wake of the attack from Gaza-based Hamas.

Read more on Barron's

Even the relatively targeted 1993 Oslo Accords, which aimed to chart a course to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, ultimately fell apart amid pressure from extremists on both sides.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The expansion of settlements must stop, and the violence of extremist settlers must stop.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After all, the vast majority of domestic extremist attacks have been perpetrated by individuals professing right-wing ideologies.

Read more on Salon

Across the region—from Cairo to Doha and from Ankara to Ramallah—the ideological scaffolding that has long propped up extremist movements is crumbling.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fanatic 
• zealot