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ideologue

American  
[ahy-dee-uh-lawg, -log, id-ee-, ahy-dee-] / ˈaɪ di əˌlɔg, -ˌlɒg, ˈɪd i-, aɪˈdi- /

noun

  1. a person who zealously advocates an ideology.


Etymology

Origin of ideologue

1805–15; < French idéologue; see ideo-, -logue

Explanation

An ideologue is someone who has very strong beliefs or opinions and stubbornly sticks to them no matter what. An ideologue will insist they're right even when evidence suggests they might be wrong. If you call someone an ideologue, it's an insult. You're not just saying they believe in something, but that their belief is unreasonable and unbending. An ideologue can't have a thoughtful discussion about a topic, and they aren’t able to consider other perspectives. Ideologue derives from the Greek idea, "form," and logos, "word or speech."

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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.

Counting the openings left by the deaths of Brezhnev and Party Ideologue Mikhail Suslov, Andropov had three vacancies to fill.

From Time Magazine Archive

Arvid Pelshe, 72, the Latvian party leader, and Ideologue Mikhail Suslov, 68, are both ailing and might possibly be replaced at the present Congress.

From Time Magazine Archive

That was how the official Polish press described the sudden jaunt to Warsaw last week of a high-level Soviet delegation headed by hawkish Politburo Ideologue Mikhail Suslov.

From Time Magazine Archive

The battle for the succession entered a new, uncharacteristically visible phase last month with the death of Party Ideologue Mikhail Suslov, whose influence in the Kremlin had been second only to Brezhnev's.

From Time Magazine Archive

Party Ideologue Mikhail Suslov, the man most responsible for the organization of the summit, fidgeted, tapping his red pencil.

From Time Magazine Archive