as in partial
inclined to favor one side over another
a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also partizan
1
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crusader
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sectarian
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices
she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 partisan
Erica Pandey, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
The Supreme Court found that Congress could impose for-cause removal protections for multi-member commissions of experts that are balanced along partisan lines and do not exercise any executive power.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025
Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2025
Podcasters, partisans, or anyone, really, can tell outrageous, incendiary lies about a candidate.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Adjective
Between the lines: The overall numbers show low approval for Trump and DOGE, but there's a partisan split.
—Erica Pandey, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
The Supreme Court found that Congress could impose for-cause removal protections for multi-member commissions of experts that are balanced along partisan lines and do not exercise any executive power.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
His partisans and his voters, in particular, say he's got the right amount of focus on matters like ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs and deporting those who are in the country illegally.
—Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2025
Podcasters, partisans, or anyone, really, can tell outrageous, incendiary lies about a candidate.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
-
The new moon partial solar eclipse in Aries on March 29th (6:58 a.m. EST) is our green light to set intentions, make power moves, and start anew.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
refinery29.com,
27 Feb. 2025
-
One unsavory reality about this journey is there's no such thing as partial credit.—
Ray Zhou,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But revolutions have a way of devouring some of their early and most eager adherents.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The problem for many MAGA adherents, though, was accepting the very notion of immigrants telling them America needs more immigration to fill lucrative jobs in America.—
Zachary Basu,
Axios,
26 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
A number of fans seem to believe that the shift can be attributed to his portrayal of Gotham City's caped crusader in Matt Reeves' 2022 reboot of the DC character.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Later, Christian crusaders built citadels along the coast that went on to be repurposed by Muslim Ottoman rulers.—
Daniele Hamamdjian,
NBC News,
17 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
People want to get rid of religious parties, people want to put sectarians behind to build an Iraq for all Iraqis.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 May 2015
-
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.—
Joshua Alston,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2023
Adjective
-
The set-up has grown increasingly hostile over time, and became an impassible roadblock when the Lerner family tried to sell the Nationals back in 2022.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Prince overcame the hostile environment and kept TCU afloat during the first quarter when the Horned Frogs struggled to find their footing offensively.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
In the digital age, growing popularity translates to more Instagram followers — 853,000 for Shelton — and dreamy TikTok montages of him.—
Brendan Le,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Chatter among sneakerheads about the shoes not only vaulted Under Armour into fifth place, Curry announced in an Instagram story to his 58 million followers that the shoes would be rereleased in limited quantities in the days following the Academy Awards.—
Laurie Brookins,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Trump is a hard-line nationalist who pursues power, profit, and unilateral advantage.—
HAL BRANDS,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
-
This is part of a far-right surge sweeping Europe, where hard-line nationalists have already cultivated ties with President Donald Trump’s White House.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC News,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Many of the photos are rarely seen, including some of distorted celebrity photos that were commissioned by major magazines.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
-
After losing his wife and creative partner, Mimi Parker, to cancer, ending the band Low, Alan Sparhawk wades through distorted solo songs of grief at Elsewhere (April 2).—
Shauna Lyon,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share