FLAG-WAVER Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

flag-waver

noun

ˈflag-ˌwā-vər

Definition of flag-waver

as in nationalist

one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country a newspaper columnist who never manages to be anything other than a knee-jerk flag-waver

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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 flag-waver Traditional Italian dance of the flag-wavers Sbandieratori doing stunts throwing their colorful flags in the air. — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 12 Feb. 2026 Onstage at this month’s AmericaFest, the annual conference hosted by Kirk’s organization Turning Point, Aldean and his wife, Brittany, spoke openly about their role as country-music flag-wavers for the MAGA movement. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2025 For those two groups to get in not just over Carey and O’Connor, but more traditional rock and roll flag-wavers like Oasis and Lenny Kravitz, is also something of a shock. — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flag-waver

nationalist

Noun

Democracy in America is facing growing threats from white supremacists and Christian nationalists, and those who are concerned must work harder to counter them, panelists told attendees at a Monday night forum in Kansas City.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
That burden kept growing partly because nationalists on the periphery tended to revolt, especially when rival empires encouraged them.

— NIALL FERGUSON, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of nationalist

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flagships

flag-waver

flag-wavers

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“Flag-waver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flag-waver. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of flag-waver

noun

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