as in dissenting
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
dissident elements within the Catholic Church
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dissenter
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs
the conference drew political dissidents of every ilk
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of dissident
Lily Moayeri, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
But unfortunately, as often happens in dissident movements, Iranians have been much better at tearing one another down than finding points of commonality.
—Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Finding indigenous Iranians who can lead this charge will not be easy, given the regime’s decades of hollowing out the opposition by killing or arresting dissidents with leadership skills.
—Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissident
Adjective
Among the many imprisoned was dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi, who over the course of three years spent more time behind bars than out of them.
—Lily Moayeri, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
But unfortunately, as often happens in dissident movements, Iranians have been much better at tearing one another down than finding points of commonality.
—Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
But only a few dozen political prisoners were released at the time and some were imprisoned again later, like dissidents Jose Daniel Ferrer and Felix Navarro.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Finding indigenous Iranians who can lead this charge will not be easy, given the regime’s decades of hollowing out the opposition by killing or arresting dissidents with leadership skills.
—Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissident
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissident
Adjective
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Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
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The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Noun
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Such torrential downpours, from loyalists and dissenters alike, often follow the deaths of notorious and long-ruling dictators—Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Saddam Hussein.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
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Board member Kevin Lynch was the lone dissenter, and there was no board discussion on the topic besides clarifying questions on the motion.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Split keyboards aren’t a new concept, but many ergonomic split keyboard designs, including JezailFunder’s own Cornix model, rely on unconventional layouts that require a little more getting used to.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Mar. 2026
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The bot’s unconventional approach was a viral success, if not taken entirely seriously by mathematicians.—
Lyndie Chiou,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This unique journey-within-a-journey was established by renegade hotelier Thierry Teyssier, founder of the regenerative-hospitality company 700,000 Heures Impact.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
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Gehlfuss' rigid, rule-following Bill Goodman serves as a foil to Colin's renegade, acting as an FBI liaison to the CIA.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The design was by aviation legend Burt Rutan, known for his bold and often maverick creations.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2023
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Sinema has modeled her political approach on the maverick style of the late Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who alienated the grassroots of his party by sometimes crossing the aisle to work with Democrats.—
Time,
Time,
23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Once ridiculed and dismissed for his nonconformist views on vaccines, nutrition, and exercise, Kennedy now leads a vast legion of followers and acolytes.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
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As such, the city takes on its own distinctively sooty, nonconformist character.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There’s an iconoclastic aspect to her as well, suggesting a challenge to the gods and nature in figuration that is ultimately rejected.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
27 Feb. 2026
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The film’s official synopsis is a quote attributed to the iconoclastic filmmaker.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Drunkenness, like madness, protects the messengers of heretical truth from disbelief, disdain, and retaliation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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This heretical policy gets some support from yet another rigid convention, that of credits, which separates directors from screenwriters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dissident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissident. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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