Confederate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rət/ (adjective) /kən-ˈfe-də-ˌrāt/ (verb) con·fed·er·ate

Meaning & Definition of Confederate

Confederate (adjective)

  1. united in a league, allied
  2. of or relating to the Confederate States of America

Confederate (noun)

  1. ally, accomplice
  2. an adherent of the Confederate States of America or their cause

Confederate (verb)

  1. to unite in a confederacy
  2. to band together

Confederate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one associated with another in wrongdoing

    "the police were able to track down his confederates once the thief started talking"

    similar: abettor, accessory, accomplice, cohort
    related: collaborationist, collaborator, informant, informer, evidence, state's evidence, companion, comrade, crony, henchman, partner, conspirator, plotter, traitor, gangster, mobster, racketeer

  2. someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support

    "relied on her confederates in the medical community for support"

    similar: abettor, ally, backer, bedfellow, fellow traveler, supporter, sympathizer
    related: empathizer, well-wisher, accessory, accomplice, coalitionist, collaborationist, collaborator, adjunct, assistant, coadjutor, helper, associate, cohort, colleague, fellow, partner, buddy, chum, companion, comrade, confidant, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, mate, pal
    near: belittler, detractor, adversary, enemy, foe, opponent

Confederate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members

    "the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers"

    similar: ally, associate, band (together), club, coalesce, cohere, conjoin, cooperate, federate, league, unite, close ranks, pull together
    related: cabal, collaborate, gang up, hang together, team (up), incorporate, organize, unionize, affiliate, amalgamate, combine, conglomerate, consolidate, converge, group, join, merge, knot, link, tie, wed
    opposite: break up, disband
    near: detach, disengage, dissolve, disunite, divorce, part, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder, alienate, estrange, fall out

Confederate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in allied

    similar: allied, biased, partial, partisan, prejudiced, unfair, affiliated, associated, federated, belligerent
    opposite: neutral, nonpartisan, nonaligned, hands-off, noninterventionist

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Confederate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Confederate:

abettor, accessory, accomplice, cohort, ally, backer, bedfellow, fellow traveler, supporter, sympathizer, associate, band (together), club, coalesce, cohere, conjoin, cooperate, federate, league, unite, close ranks, pull together, allied, biased, partial, partisan, prejudiced, unfair, affiliated, associated, federated, belligerent

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Confederate

Words with the opposite meaning of Confederate:

break up, disband, neutral, nonpartisan, nonaligned, hands-off, noninterventionist

Related Words for Confederate

collaborationist, collaborator, informant, informer, evidence, state's evidence, companion, comrade, crony, henchman, partner, conspirator, plotter, traitor, gangster, mobster, racketeer, empathizer, well-wisher, coalitionist, adjunct, assistant, coadjutor, helper, colleague, fellow, buddy, chum, confidant, familiar

Near Antonyms of Confederate

belittler, detractor, adversary, enemy, foe, opponent, detach, disengage, dissolve, disunite, divorce, part, segregate, separate, sever, split, sunder, alienate, estrange, fall out

Word Forms of Confederate

Inflections: confederates, confederated, confederating

Derived words: confederative (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Confederate

Middle English confederat, from Late Latin confoederatus, past participle of confoederare to unite by a league, from Latin com- + foeder-, foedus compact federal

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Confederate

Confederate flag, Confederate Memorial Day

Frequently Asked Questions about Confederate

What does "Confederate" mean?

"Confederate" means united in a league, allied. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: united in a league, allied. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Confederate"?

Other words for "Confederate" include abettor, accessory, accomplice, cohort, ally, backer, bedfellow and fellow traveler. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Confederate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Confederate"?

There are 87 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Confederate". Common alternatives include abettor, accessory, accomplice, cohort, ally, backer, bedfellow, fellow traveler, supporter and sympathizer.

What is the opposite of "Confederate"?

Antonyms of "Confederate" include break up, disband, neutral, nonpartisan, nonaligned, hands-off and noninterventionist. Near antonyms include belittler, detractor, adversary and enemy.

How do you use "Confederate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Confederate" in a sentence: "the police were able to track down his confederates once the thief started talking"; "relied on her confederates in the medical community for support"; "the nations confederated in order to lower international trade barriers".

Is "Confederate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Confederate" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Confederate"?

"Confederate" is pronounced /kən-ˈfe-d(ə-)rət/ as an adjective and /kən-ˈfe-də-ˌrāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as con·fed·er·ate.

What is the origin of the word "Confederate"?

"Confederate" comes from Middle English confederat, from Late Latin confoederatus, past participle of confoederare to unite by a league, from Latin com- + foeder-, foedus compact federal. First known use: 15th century.