PARTISANS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

partisans

noun

variants also partizans

plural of partisan

as in adherents

one who follows the opinions or teachings of another partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in militants

one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sectarians

one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 partisans In such seats, the primary becomes the real election, a dynamic that tends to favor the coronation of extremely polarizing nominees since, typically, that electorate is composed of committed partisans. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 Eventually, Sinclair partisans took matters into their own hands by heckling the fake newsreels and disrupting screenings. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026 Harald paid tribute to the Norwegian partisans who had fought alongside the Soviets during World War II, helping to restore the memory of a segment of the population that had long been marginalized in the official narrative of the war. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026 This week’s Pollwatcher answers a reader’s question about how polls select respondents and highlights how partisans in one state have flipped on a Democratic senator. — Scott Clement, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026 As a result, partisans of the political left and right routinely use allegations of plagiarism to vilify their ideological adversaries. — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 Such traits help elevate interactions with the natural world – and might do the same among neighbors, colleagues, and even political partisans. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026 Exhibited for the first time outside of Sarajevo, the churning Socialist Realist homage invokes Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People in figuring partisans heroically overcoming their would-be Nazi aggressors. — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026 Reynolds tracks the willingness of northern partisans—Carl Schurz, Horace Greeley, Lyman Trumbull, and even Sumner himself—to abandon that cause by the dwindling references to Jamestown and Plymouth. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisans

Noun

Since the administration kicked off its anti-AI doomerism social media campaign, taking particular aim at EA and its adherents’ belief that AI carries a high risk of ending humanity—anti-AI sentiment seems to have grown.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
When brutal rationalism is challenged, especially by traditionalists, its defenders will often justify themselves by pointing to the intelligence of its adherents.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of adherents

Noun

Despite Riyadh’s considerable air defenses and vast military spending, the militants have been able to outsmart the systems using relatively cheap drones and missiles.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
It was used in combat in 2017 against ISIS militants in Afghanistan.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of militants

Noun

While Musk fanatics expressed their excitement on social media, the Roadster isn't likely to have any material financial impact on the company.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
NBCUniversal‘s Peacock is rolling out up a new way to try to get Bravo fanatics even more engaged in the network’s galaxy of reality programming drama and dish-worthy moments.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of fanatics

Noun

First was comic and content creator, George Brett Olson, who did a breakdown (watch it below) accusing an AI Instagram account with 300,000 followers of seemingly ripped off his joke word for word.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
The series has nearly 1 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of followers

Noun

There is no sign that anyone but Khanna or Ocasio-Cortez is moving towards a new Gaza answer that activists might prefer.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of activists

Noun

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

Definition of nationalists

Noun

Obeying Christ, the soon-to-be disciples got a hands-on lesson in the power of deeper, more humble prayers rather than surface-level efforts.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
In particular, Greek mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras and his disciples may have associated beans with reincarnation, so some thought eating them was technically an act of cannibalism.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of disciples

Noun

The book is full of stories of villains, like the venomous heroin that took so many of Seattle’s crusaders as well as the music industry that never quite understood where Soundgarden belonged.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 June 2026
The facility remains popular among anti-immigrant crusaders, and Attorney General Uthmeier’s campaign store sells Alligator Alcatraz bumper stickers, T-shirts, and caps.

— Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Definition of crusaders

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

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Synonyms of partisans

noun

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