Word
extremist
Phoneticsex·trem·ist, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛkˈstɹimɪst/
UK/ɛkstɹˈiːmɪst/
Definitions
01a person with radical views
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic · Formal
n. someone who holds very strong and often dangerous political or religious views.
n. a person who advocates for radical or fanatical measures, often rejecting democratic or moderate processes.
“The government is worried about how extremists use the internet to spread their ideas.”
“Political analysts warned that the rise of extremists on both ends of the spectrum could destabilize the fragile coalition government.”
Usage
Often used with 'religious' or 'political' as a modifier.
02holding extreme views
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. describing a person or group that has very radical or fanatical opinions.
adj. characterized by or relating to extremism; holding views that are far outside the mainstream.
“The group was banned for its extremist views on social media.”
“The candidate struggled to distance himself from the extremist rhetoric that had defined his early career in local politics.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “extremist” in context.
Verb
01. crack down on extremists
“The government has vowed to crack down on extremists who incite violence against minority groups.”
verb + prep + noun
02. deradicalize the extremist
“Psychologists are working on new programs to deradicalize the extremists before they re-enter society.”
verb + noun
03. radicalize an extremist
“The investigation revealed how the group worked to radicalize extremists through encrypted messaging apps.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. religious extremist
“The documentary explores how religious extremists use social media to recruit vulnerable young people.”
adj + noun
05. right-wing extremist
“The intelligence agency is monitoring several right-wing extremists who have been spreading hate speech online.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. extremist group
“Several extremist groups have claimed responsibility for the recent cyberattacks on the national grid.”
noun + noun
07. influx of extremists
“Border security was tightened following reports of a sudden influx of extremists into the region.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Essentially, the US (and their allies, including Britain) abandoned the country to the Taliban extremists.” “Our new national survey shows why it's so effective, and why it's more dangerous than any single extremist ideology, precisely because it doesn't lead just one way.” Etymology
From extreme + -ist.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/extremist