NATIONALISTS Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

nationalists

noun

plural of nationalist

as in patriots

one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country a staunch nationalist who favored any policy that would give the country more power in the international arena

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of nationalists While many Hindus worship Rama, Sita and Hanuman as deities, Hindu nationalists have also presented Rama as a historical figure – the legendary ruler of the ancient kingdom of Ayodhya. — Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 As Haitians on both sides of the island took sides, Dominican authorities demanded an apology, nationalists denounced the statement as an affront to Dominican sovereignty, and Haiti’s foreign ministry distanced the government from it. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 An investigation into the apocalyptic thinking of Christian nationalists, tech-bro reactionaries and populist survivalists. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 Of course, one point made in the song is that nearly every American has immigrants in the family tree, however much some nationalists may like to imagine a United States that began with certain demographics in place. — Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 The plans to honor Mladić sparked a wave of criticism from the pro-European opposition in the country, but were welcomed by many nationalists. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Begin became prime minister in 1977, ushering in the rise of right-wing nationalists and sweeping out the socialist movement launched under Ben Gurion. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 But Jewish religious nationalists, particularly uneducated young men, remain a threat, said John Munayer of the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue, an interreligious organization in Jerusalem. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 The fact that Israel’s current leadership apparently feels more solidarity with European nationalists than with the Continent’s political establishment is a strange irony of the moment. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationalists

Noun

True Christians honor Christ’s teachings, as patriots honor America’s founding documents and the egalitarian, expansive spirit with which they were written.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Traditionally used to damage a ship’s rigging and destroy masts, in this instance it was used by the patriots as an antipersonnel weapon, with devastating effect.

— Jennifer Janofsky, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of patriots

Noun

There really are chauvinists out there.

— Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Sacco knows better than most that political chauvinists of all kinds can point to past moments of injury and humiliation to justify any current cruelty or authoritarian project—an especially powerful appeal when those historical injustices are real.

— Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025

Definition of chauvinists

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“Nationalists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationalists. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nationalists

noun

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