RACISM Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

racism

noun

ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm

Definition of racism

as in segregation

the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others Hitler's declaration of his belief in a "master race" provided irrefutable proof to the world of the inherent and dangerous racism of the Nazi movement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in prejudice

hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most deplorable incidents of racism that occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for racism

Noun

In 1954, the Supreme Court overturned its 1896 decision that upheld racial segregation.

— Tom Campbell, Oc Register, 4 July 2026
Or even just 62 years to the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation.

— Susan Bence, NPR, 4 July 2026

Definition of segregation

Noun

Federal judge Aileen Cannon dismissed a lawsuit with prejudice on Monday, July 6, after poet Kimberly Marasco sued Swift, Aaron Dessner, Republic Records and Universal Music Group in February 2025, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.

— Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Her initial lawsuit, filed in May 2024, was dismissed with prejudice in September 2025.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026

Definition of prejudice

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.

Browse Nearby Words

racing

racism

racist

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to racism

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of racism

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

The Words of the Week - Jun 12

'Xenophobia' vs. 'Racism'

Words of the Year: A Decade in Review

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on racism

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes