partisan 1 of 2

partisan

2 of 2

noun

variants also partizan
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2
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as in sectarian
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word partisan different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of partisan are adherent, disciple, and follower. While all these words mean "one who gives full loyalty and support to another," partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment.

partisans of the President

When could adherent be used to replace partisan?

The synonyms adherent and partisan are sometimes interchangeable, but adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment.

adherents to Marxism

When might disciple be a better fit than partisan?

While the synonyms disciple and partisan are close in meaning, disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master.

disciples of Gandhi

When can follower be used instead of partisan?

Although the words follower and partisan have much in common, follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another.

an evangelist and his followers

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 partisan
Adjective
The results varied somewhat based on partisan affiliation, with 85% of Democrats saying a new disease outbreak is likely, while 61% of Republicans and 63% of independents said the same. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025 Did the Supreme Court rule that partisan gerrymandering is OK? Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025
Noun
But where partisans often employ elements of faith and Christian values for personal or political gain, the pope’s message was based on his deep faith and biblical principles. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2025 After a nine-month war, in which India sided with the Bengali partisans, Pakistan was defeated and an independent Bangladesh was declared in March 1971. Simon Montlake, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
  • Lava chemistry shows that Mount Etna’s volcanic activity is fed by the partial melting of the subducting Adriatic microplate, sliding beneath the African plate, and a plume of material rising upwards along the plate boundaries.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, in the negotiations over the hostages in Gaza, Netanyahu has insisted on partial deals, refusing to accept any agreement that would release all of them and end the war.
    Assaf Orion, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Here in the first city, the Catholic Church is at an extended crossroads of its own, calling for its leaders and adherents to engage in strategic planning and soul-searching of their own.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
  • Even conscientious adherents to national security protocols acknowledge that classified U.S. government systems are far from convenient.
    Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Colonization, wars, crusaders, the Crimean War, Napoleon, World War One, Adolf Hitler.
    Matthew Chance, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Perhaps no other American statesman has ever disdained the role of idealism in foreign policy—the meddling of human-rights activists and democracy crusaders—quite like Kissinger.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • People want to get rid of religious parties, people want to put sectarians behind to build an Iraq for all Iraqis.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015
  • Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.
    Joshua Alston, Variety, 12 Apr. 2023
Adjective
  • Some of countries in the continent that are rich in uranium, such as Niger and Gabon, may be delicate or difficult to deal with in the near term as both underwent military coups recently, with Niger turning hostile toward the French and more toward the Russians.
    Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET and Pacers fans are sure to bring the energy and create a hostile atmosphere for New York.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • In her Instagram post, Maria Carolina warned her 173,000 followers to be careful when out on the road.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
  • On Instagram alone, both Life & Style and In Touch counted north of half a million followers in addition to robust websites.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, says his 2019 revocation of Kashmir’s semiautonomous status ended a decades-long separatist insurgency and allowed tourism to flourish, a narrative that was shattered by the attack last month.
    Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC news, 6 May 2025
  • The next day, the FBI dug up the rear axle of that truck, which eventually led them to Timothy McVeigh, an extreme nationalist angered by the Waco siege two years earlier.
    Laurel Morales, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Higher wattages make louder and less distorted sounds possible without damaging the speaker.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
  • The software error could cause the review camera image to become distorted when the car is in reverse, the NHTSA says.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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