PURIST Synonyms: 15 Similar and Opposite Words

purist

noun

Definition of purist

as in fanatic

a person who has very strong ideas about what is correct or acceptable and who usually opposes changes to traditional methods and practices a new style of play that offended the sport's purists a language purist who is always looking to correct the speech of others

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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 purist This year, blessedly free of injury, Muchová has belatedly been able to play the kind of tennis that makes purists purr. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Some soccer purists grumbled about the World Cup expanding this year from 32 to 48 teams. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026 For those who’d rather see the Air Force 1 Low through more of a purist’s lens, the shoe is coming back this year in an ’01 build that’s more true to the original proportions than the ’07 build that’s been the standard. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 June 2026 The purists were always going to take issue with a Prancing Horse that had an electric powertrain instead of snarling internal combustion engine, but its unorthodox design, courtesy of Jony Ivy’s LoveFrom studio, has received just as much criticism. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for purist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purist

Noun

Gardner’s Big Slick co-host and fellow Chiefs fanatic, Eric Stonestreet and his wife, Lindsay, attended.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
For basketball fanatic Adam Sandler, there was no better way to shake off the pre-wedding jitters than shooting some hoops.

— Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026

Definition of fanatic

Noun

America, the world’s oldest, continuous, modern democracy, will soon celebrate its 250th birthday—mired in conflict and piloted by a belligerent and mercurial nationalist.

— Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026
In more recent years, the culture wars waged by India’s ruling Hindu nationalists have complicated the image of Tipu and his father, who some now have recast as bloodthirsty Muslim warlords rather than icons of national resistance.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026

Definition of nationalist

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purifying

purist

purists

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“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purist. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of purist

noun

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