dissident

adjective

dis·​si·​dent ˈdi-sə-dənt How to pronounce dissident (audio)
Synonyms of dissidentnext
: disagreeing especially with an established religious or political system, organization, or belief
dissident elements in the armed forces
dissident noun

Examples of dissident in a Sentence

dissident elements within the Catholic Church
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.
People were worn down by the waiting patterns imposed upon them by the state; in this film, the couple opts to break free through artistic expression, and mounting a new, dissident work. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026 And now Prince William is walking a fine line – with a controversial visit to Saudi Arabia and an audience with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man said to have ordered the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026 Many in Syria’s dissident circles at first found Bashar’s awkwardness and shyness appealing. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026 And anyone who dares to peek behind the curtain—journalists, dissident professors, activists, even, bizarrely, the Iranian president himself—becomes a threat to the regime. Azadeh Moaveni, Time, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissident

Word History

Etymology

Latin dissident-, dissidens, present participle of dissidēre to sit apart, disagree, from dis- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dissident was in 1769

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dissident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissident. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

dissident

adjective
dis·​si·​dent ˈdis-əd-ənt How to pronounce dissident (audio)
: disagreeing with an opinion or a group
dissident noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dissident

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