Thesaurus results for SECESSIONISTS

secessionists

noun

plural of secessionist

as in rebels

a person who thinks that a nation, state, etc., should separate from another and become independent A growing group of secessionists are pushing for the independence of the region.

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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 secessionists If nothing is done, the secessionists may achieve success simply for lack of opposition. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 Analysts sympathetic to Riyadh say Saudi policy is to defend state sovereignty and regional order, accusing Abu Dhabi of empowering secessionists to maintain influence in failing states. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for secessionists

Noun

Nathaniel Bacon and his rebels set fire to Jamestown, the capital of the Virginia colony.

— USA Today, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Smokejumpers kicked cargo destined for mountain villages in Vietnam, Hmong rebels in Laos, and Muslim dissidents in China.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of rebels

Noun

The insecurity landscape is also more chaotic because some groups, after initially being invited to help defend against insurgents, turned into terrorists, said Dengiyefa Angalapu, an analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Socialists have found a new footing in the party, with younger and more left-wing insurgents ousting older establishment figures to demand generational and ideological change.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of insurgents

Noun

Solar ultraviolet photons break apart bonds in molecules, creating radicals, which oxidize VOCs.

— Michael A. Robinson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Political radicals have found purchase in Democratic primaries in part because of disgust with our present system of capitalist greed, self-dealing and multi-card monte with all cards in the president du jour’s hands.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of radicals

Noun

In a Michigan swing district just north of Detroit, Democratic congressional candidate Christina Hines said voters are far more worried about affording fuel, groceries and healthcare than about left-wing extremists gaining ground in her party.

— Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in a campaign of mass murder orchestrated by Hutu extremists.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of extremists

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secessionists

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“Secessionists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secessionists. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of secessionists

noun

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