noun
adjective
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Etymology
Origin of extremist
Explanation
Nowadays, we tend to associate the word extremist with "terrorist," and use the two words almost interchangeably to define someone who holds radical political or religious views. An extremist can hold views on any subject: if you believe all little brothers should be banned from their siblings' rooms, or that anyone who roots for a different baseball team should be quarantined, then you, my friend, are an extremist. What tends to unite all extremists is their willingness to act, often violently, to realize their beliefs. Little brothers, watch out.
Vocabulary lists containing extremist
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
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President Obama's U.N. Address
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And psychologists and psychiatrists say kids, in their formative years, could easily see extremist content online and, in some cases, possibly connect with extremist groups in search of social belonging.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
Researchers are finding that extremist ideas are now spreading through looser networks where many voices contribute and messaging can vary widely.
From Salon • May 8, 2026
"Anything that creates, like an agitation, in the extremist on either side of the aisle is a frightening dynamic," Griffin said.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
The center denounced F-42 as an extremist with one hand and paid him $140,000 with the other, according to the indictment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
In fact, I am, and always have been, an extremist, a purist.
From The Book of Khalid by Rihani, Ameen Fares
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
