revolutionist 1 of 2

Definition of revolutionistnext

revolutionist

2 of 2

noun

1
as in revolutionary
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government after a long series of weak leaders, the people were ready for a revolutionist who promised to bring sweeping change to the nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 revolutionist
Noun
The collection drew inspiration from two seemingly distant sources: a still-life painting of a shirt collar by Joe Brainard, the prolific 1960s New York writer and artist, and a short story by Yu Dafu, the early 20th-century Chinese author and revolutionist. Denni Hu, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025 In a country shackled and scarred by race, religion, gender, and class, much of that rationalized and reified by mainline American churches, the Disciples were genial revolutionists offering inclusion, education, and empowerment for those at the margins. Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025 As the head of China’s Nationalist government, Chiang and his party were trying to establish control in a nation divided among revolutionists, nationalists, Indigenous warlords, and a developing communist army and government. Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024 Many revolutionists see heavy tank casualties in Ukraine as the key indicator for the tank’s looming obsolescence in the face of newly lethal precision antitank weapons. Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2023 Leading that revolt is young revolutionist Luigi (Vincenzo Crea), while much older Silvestro (Luca Lionello) hopes to change things from within, by running for a public office usually held by the gentry. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 June 2023 On the second episode of Broken Bread this season, Choi talks to farm-to-table revolutionist Alice Waters about the importance of slow food. Andy Wang, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2022 From the early days of Silicon Valley’s Internet-era revolution, as engineers, designers, and financiers began to recognize the potential of their inventions, sanctimony was a distinct feature of the revolutionists. Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolutionist
Adjective
  • Firecracker became extremely loyal to Homelander and regurgitated his radical conservative views to the public.
    Staff Author, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But there’s also a risk for cooptation, with the most radical components of the movement being sidelined either because of pragmatism (prioritizing the work that can get funded) or discomfort.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The second includes former revolutionaries, reformists, communist factions and groups such as the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), many of whom emerged from or once supported the revolutionary system before later opposing it.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In 1777, he was summoned to Paris to meet with American revolutionaries, including Benjamin Franklin.
    Amanda Rosa Updated April 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Its leaders have been working to rebuild relations with Arab and Western countries that had shunned Syria under former President Bashar Assad, who was ousted in December 2024 by rebels, who then installed a new government.
    Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • As the years tick by, the lips become a bit of a rebel.
    Micaela English, Glamour, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Typical pulsating aurora displays last 10 to 20 minutes, but Kerss had captured almost three hours of extreme pulsating auroras — an unusually powerful display and one of the longest on record, according to the statement.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Threats are growing from more extreme weather.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Kidal's capture in a similar militant-insurgent alliance over a decade ago was at the root of the security crisis that has shaken Mali.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Mali has faced years of escalating insurgent violence; the ruling military junta, which pledged to restore stability in a 2020 coup, turned to Russia for assistance in its counterinsurgency campaign.
    Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 26 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Revolutionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolutionist. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster