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

"The government needs to take actions against the hate marches and hate preachers and extremists," he said.

From BBC

"This partnership has improved intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and the overall effectiveness of Nigerian-led efforts against violent extremist organizations."

From Barron's

Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed in July as head of the National Counterterrorism Center, which analyzes and detects terrorist threats.

From Los Angeles Times

Afghanistan and Pakistan have been in conflict for months, with Islamabad accusing its neighbour of harbouring Islamist extremists who have mounted deadly cross-border attacks.

From Barron's

Social media has accelerated the process, allowing extremist narratives to spread quickly and widely.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fanatic
• zealot