ter·ror·ist
ˈter-ər-ist 
plural terrorists
: an advocate or practitioner of terrorism as a means of coercion
Opposition still runs high to the idea of releasing or bringing into U.S. prisons dozens of men widely considered dangerous terrorists even if many are not.
Less than three weeks before the Winter Olympics are set to begin in the Russian city of Sochi, police there have begun hunting for suspected terrorists allegedly plotting attacks.—
Time
Time
: or, relating to, or characteristic of terrorists or terrorism : practicing or involving violent acts of terror
a terrorist organization
The consequences of the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks of September 2001 will ramify for decades.—Joe Klein
Joe KleinThere is no margin for error when a real terrorist threat is present and the safety of the public, and the first responders, is in jeopardy.—Gary J. Laughlin
Gary J. LaughlinExamples of terrorist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
For much of the last quarter century, Beijing has considered all Uyghur militants abroad as terrorists and has repeatedly accused Uyghur movements of inspiring or instructing thousands of terrorist attacks, some deadly, inside China over a three-decade period.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 17 May 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
This was truly a terrorist act.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorist
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Noun
They were all included in the Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List that targets human-rights violators, drug traffickers and terrorists.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
For much of the last quarter century, Beijing has considered all Uyghur militants abroad as terrorists and has repeatedly accused Uyghur movements of inspiring or instructing thousands of terrorist attacks, some deadly, inside China over a three-decade period.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 17 May 2026
Adjective
Starling, a black-ops squad formed decades ago to take out terrorist plots that was ultimately shut down by Greer, has been resurrected for vengeful purposes by British war hero Liam Crown (Max Beesley).
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
This was truly a terrorist act.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrorist
Cite this Entry
“Terrorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorist. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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