extremist

[ ik-stree-mist ]

noun

1. a person who goes to extremes, especially in political matters.
2. a supporter or advocate of extreme doctrines or practices.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to extremists.

extremist

/ ɪkˈstriːmɪst /

noun

1. a person who favours or resorts to immoderate, uncompromising, or fanatical methods or behaviour, esp in being politically radical

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by immoderate or excessive actions, opinions, etc

Derived Forms

• exˈtremism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of extremist¹

First recorded in 1840–50; extreme + -ist

Example Sentences

“These are critical seats that have real impacts on everyday Americans–we cannot allow Trump to fill them with radical extremists,” Buchanan said.

From Salon

He left the military after President Biden was elected, saying he’d been ordered to stand down from guard duty at the inauguration after top brass dubbed him an extremist and “white nationalist.”

From Los Angeles Times

The extremist settler who runs it, Zvi Bar Yosef, was sanctioned this year by the UK and other Western governments for repeated acts of violence against Palestinians, including twice threatening families at gunpoint.

From BBC

McBride called the move “a blatant attempt from far-right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing”.

From BBC

“It’s disappointing that this school would deny their students the opportunity to grow and learn together and instead embrace the divisive and hateful rhetoric of extremists like Donald Trump,” Hoang said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fanatic
• zealot