Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A person who advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in politics.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who goes to extremes; a supporter of extreme doctrines or practice.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A supporter of extreme doctrines or practice; one who holds extreme opinions.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a person who holds extreme views, especially one who advocates such views; a radical or fanatic
  • adjective holding extreme views, especially on a political subject
  • adjective of, or relating to extremism

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm
  • noun a person who holds extreme views

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Barry Goldwater even embraced the title extremist ( "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice"), George McGovern's anti-war crusade offered an unapologetically leftist platform, and Walter Mondale proudly promised in his convention speech that he would raise the nation's taxes.

    Dissecting Leftism 2009

  • The term extremist is NOT what the left supports … which is why the left works against the right because of all the extremist types in the republican party … but they call themselves christians instead of muslims … what ever BS … they are biggoted facists.

    Think Progress » ThinkFast: May 4, 2006 2006

  • The department cites threatening rhetoric from what it calls extremist groups.

    CNN Transcript Sep 29, 2001 2001

  • Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani was quoted on Thursday as saying Islamists were likely to represent the next wave of political power in the Arab world and that the West should embrace them, saying moderate Islamists could help combat what he called extremist ideology.

    Reuters: Top News 2011

  • Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani was quoted on Thursday as saying Islamists were likely to represent the next wave of political power in the Arab world and that the West should embrace them, saying moderate Islamists could help combat what he called extremist ideology.

    Reuters: Press Release 2011

  • The official Syrian news agency said Monday night that the military had entered the town at the request of citizens to hunt what it called "extremist terrorist groups."

    NYT > Home Page By ANTHONY SHADID 2011

  • AP CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's foreign minister is criticizing U.S. conservatives for what he calls "extremist" stances against President Hugo Chavez's government.

    Breaking News: CBS News 2011

  • Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who introduced the Senate Bill, said he was not surprised that the institute, which he called "extremist," took this step.

    SFGate: Top News Stories Chronic wbuchanan@sfchronicle.com (Wyatt Buchanan 2011

  • KURTZ: If the Republican Party has been hijacked by what you call the extremist Tea Party -- you argue that as a columnist -- has the mainstream press, the regular news coverage, has it reflected that?

    Crooks and Liars Heather 2011

  • Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who introduced the Senate Bill, said he was not surprised that the institute, which he called "extremist," took this step.

    SFGate: Top News Stories Chronic wbuchanan@sfchronicle.com (Wyatt Buchanan 2011

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