nationalist 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of nationalistnext
1
as in nationalistic
having or showing excessive favoritism towards one's own country most of the articles on the website are nationalist propaganda and not objective by any means

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in patriotic
having or showing love and support for one's country nationalist fervor is often at its highest when a country is at war

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nationalist

2 of 2

noun

ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-list How to pronounce nationalist (audio)
as in patriot
one who shows excessive favoritism towards his or her country a staunch nationalist who favored any policy that would give the country more power in the international arena

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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 nationalist
Adjective
The number is an estimate by Yogendra Yadav, an elections specialist and prominent critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 That resulted in Balad, a small Palestinian nationalist party, failing to cross the threshold necessary to win any seats in parliament. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
An investigation into the apocalyptic thinking of Christian nationalists, tech-bro reactionaries and populist survivalists. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 Of course, one point made in the song is that nearly every American has immigrants in the family tree, however much some nationalists may like to imagine a United States that began with certain demographics in place. — Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nationalist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationalist
  1. nationalistic
  2. patriotic
  3. patriot
  4. chauvinist
Adjective
  • At stake in Tuesday’s election is whether Israel keeps moving in the nationalistic, conservative and religious direction – or changes course.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But these election day visitors and likeminded liberal voters are rallying to protect and preserve their way of life in a country that is becoming more religious and nationalistic.
    — Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of nationalistic
Adjective
  • Sellers have cut prices, closed stores, branched into other patriotic merchandise or turned to Trump’s rallies for sales.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Onscreen, this ethnic conflict allowed Ken-san and other kimonoed gangsters to be presented as pure, sincere, patriotic heroes fighting for traditional Japanese values against savage aliens as well as local, gun-toting yakuza.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of patriotic
Noun
  • Mike Levsen, a Democrat and former nonpartisan mayor of Aberdeen, South Dakota, has long viewed Thune as a patriot trying to do the right thing.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • True Christians honor Christ’s teachings, as patriots honor America’s founding documents and the egalitarian, expansive spirit with which they were written.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of patriot
Noun
  • There really are chauvinists out there.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
  • Sacco knows better than most that political chauvinists of all kinds can point to past moments of injury and humiliation to justify any current cruelty or authoritarian project—an especially powerful appeal when those historical injustices are real.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Definition of chauvinist

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Cite this Entry

“Nationalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationalist. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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