noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
The move is designed to "hold extremist settlers accountable for the horrific levels of settler violence", the five countries said.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
“If there is extremist content, the algorithm will just feed you more and more and more,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
Nigeria and the US have increased military cooperation as the country ramps up efforts to fight extremist violence.
From BBC • May 16, 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
An extremist was addressing the gathering and telling them that they were fools to go on fighting, that they ought to refuse and go home, and so forth.
From Another Sheaf by Galsworthy, John
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.
