nationalistic
adjective
na·tion·al·is·tic
ˌna-sh(ə-)nə-ˈli-stik 
1
: of, favoring, or characterized by nationalism
As increasingly nationalistic, authoritarian regimes in eastern Europe trampled on the rights of all minorities in the economically beleaguered 1930s, the ethnic German communities were easily tempted by National Socialism.—
Christopher R. Browning
Christopher R. BrowningHis thinking also took a peculiarly nationalistic bent, emphasizing that Buddhism had declined in India and China in turn and that Japan was now the central land of the religion.—Edwin O. Reischauer
Edwin O. Reischauer2
: of or relating to a nation
The team split its schedule between the U.S. and Mexico for 17 of the next 18 seasons before cultural and nationalistic differences between players and officials … bubbled to the top.—Kevin Baxter
Kevin BaxterExamples of nationalistic in a Sentence
the political party's nationalistic ideology
a nationalistic display of the country's flag at all civic events
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel’s national security minister is slamming the Muslim-majority countries that have denounced its controversial bill to effectively expand the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism and nationalistic murders.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Aside from religious and nationalistic appeals, the Basij has been kept in line through economic incentives.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2026
The law makes the death penalty — by hanging — the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted for nationalistic killings.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
After the Russian government mandated all schools to implement nationalistic and anti-Ukraine lesson plans following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Talankin refused to go along.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
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Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Aside from religious and nationalistic appeals, the Basij has been kept in line through economic incentives.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2026
The law makes the death penalty — by hanging — the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted for nationalistic killings.
—Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
After the Russian government mandated all schools to implement nationalistic and anti-Ukraine lesson plans following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Talankin refused to go along.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nationalistic
Cite this Entry
“Nationalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalistic. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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