Extremist — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ik-ˈstrē-ˌmi-zəm/ ex·trem·ism

Meaning & Definition of Extremist

Extremist (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being extreme
  2. advocacy of extreme measures or views, radicalism

Extremist (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being very far from the center of public opinion

    "their extremist views on religious issues set them apart from the rest of the community"

    similar: extreme, fanatic, rabid, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultra
    related: subversive, violent, wild, reactionary
    opposite: middle-of-the-road, nonrevolutionary, unrevolutionary
    near: conservative, moderate, temperate, conventional, orthodox, traditional, liberal, progressive

Extremist (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government

    "extremists wanted to do away with everything, even though they had no thought-out plan for what to do afterwards"

    similar: crazy, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist
    related: young Turk, leftist, lefty, red, progressive, reformer, reformist, anarch, anarchist, subversive, agitator, insurgent, insurrectionist, rebel, secessionist, separationist, separatist
    opposite: middle-of-the-roader, moderate
    near: conservative, fuddy-duddy, reactionary, rightist, standpatter, Tory, traditionalist

Related Entry: Extremism (noun)

Extremism is a different word from Extremist. The synonyms below are for extremism, not for extremist.

  1. belief in and support for ideas that are very far from what most people consider correct or reasonable

    "political extremism"

    similar: irrationality, radicalism, unreasonableness, excess, excessiveness, exorbitance, immoderacy, immoderation, insobriety, intemperance, intemperateness, nimiety, extravagance, prodigality
    opposite: moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Extremist

The most common words with a similar meaning to Extremist:

extreme, fanatic, rabid, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultra, crazy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Extremist

Words with the opposite meaning of Extremist:

middle-of-the-road, nonrevolutionary, unrevolutionary, middle-of-the-roader, moderate

Related Words for Extremist

subversive, violent, wild, reactionary, young Turk, leftist, lefty, red, progressive, reformer, reformist, anarch, anarchist, agitator, insurgent, insurrectionist, rebel, secessionist, separationist, separatist

Near Antonyms of Extremist

conservative, temperate, conventional, orthodox, traditional, liberal, progressive, fuddy-duddy, reactionary, rightist, standpatter, Tory, traditionalist

Word Forms of Extremist

Derived words: extremist (noun or adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Extremist

First known use: 1865

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Extremist

Frequently Asked Questions about Extremist

What does "Extremist" mean?

"Extremist" means the quality or state of being extreme. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: the quality or state of being extreme. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Extremist"?

Other words for "Extremist" include extreme, fanatic, rabid, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultra and crazy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Extremist" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Extremist"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Extremist". Common alternatives include extreme, fanatic, rabid, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultra and crazy.

What is the opposite of "Extremist"?

Antonyms of "Extremist" include middle-of-the-road, nonrevolutionary, unrevolutionary, middle-of-the-roader and moderate. Near antonyms include conservative, temperate, conventional and orthodox.

How do you use "Extremist" in a sentence?

Examples of "Extremist" in a sentence: "their extremist views on religious issues set them apart from the rest of the community"; "extremists wanted to do away with everything, even though they had no thought-out plan for what to do afterwards".

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

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

Is "Extremist" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Extremist" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Extremist"?

"Extremist" is pronounced /ik-ˈstrē-ˌmi-zəm/ and divided into syllables as ex·trem·ism.