extremism

noun

ex·​trem·​ism ik-ˈstrē-ˌmi-zəm How to pronounce extremism (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being extreme
2
: advocacy of extreme measures or views : radicalism
extremist noun or adjective

Examples of extremism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The killing has intensified attention on political violence, extremism, and the rapid spread of misinformation. Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 Several schools across the country were targeted with false active shooter reports in August and more than two dozen HBCUs were targeted by bomb threats in 2022, prompting a federal hate crime and violent extremism investigation. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 The online footprint of the 16-year-old who shot two students and then himself at Evergreen High School this week fits into a new wave of online extremism that calls for violence as a way to destroy society, experts said. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025 Lessons learned early on by the legacy companies appear to have been forgotten, and what can happen with so much online extremism. Steven Stalinsky, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extremism

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of extremism was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Extremism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extremism. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

extremism

noun
ex·​trem·​ism ik-ˈstrē-ˌmiz-əm How to pronounce extremism (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being extreme
2
: belief in and support for extreme ideas especially in politics
extremist noun or adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on extremism

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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