as in excessiveness
belief in and support for ideas that are very far from what most people consider correct or reasonable
political extremism
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 extremism
Today’s Democratic moderates will forever be tarred with the left’s extremism and its willingness to sacrifice the interests of the country on the altar of political expediency.
—
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
Its commentary on political extremism, religious tribalism and the erosion of nuance is uniquely relevant, with episodes that spark conversation across ideological lines without resorting to provocation for provocation’s sake.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
In his best moments, former CPS CEO Pedro Martinez served as a counterweight to this kind of CTU extremism.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
In Conversation Michael Edison Hayden traces the origins of white supremacy group VDARE and explores how extremism can invade small town American.
—Literary Hub, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extremism
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
Its commentary on political extremism, religious tribalism and the erosion of nuance is uniquely relevant, with episodes that spark conversation across ideological lines without resorting to provocation for provocation’s sake.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
In his best moments, former CPS CEO Pedro Martinez served as a counterweight to this kind of CTU extremism.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
In Conversation Michael Edison Hayden traces the origins of white supremacy group VDARE and explores how extremism can invade small town American.
—Literary Hub, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extremism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extremism
Noun
-
Other oil companies paid an excess of $3 million in addition to the crossing fee to accelerate their passage in the face of soaring oil prices.—
Alma Solis,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This spike is a Herbig–Haro object (HH 399, specifically) — a jet of material launched by a growing protostar accreting too much matter and ejecting the excess along its rotational axis.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As much as an institutional critique, Szpila has given us a parable on the dangers of fanaticism and the necessity of radicalism, and the obvious parallel between the rigidity of belief systems.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But that distinction would have made little sense to seventeenth-century women, whose religious radicalism led them to make vehement political critiques of their own society.—
Chandler Fritz,
The New York Review of Books,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But this often requires accepting the fundamental irrationality of the wrapping-up process.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The irrationality of politicians suddenly makes sense.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extremism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extremism. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
