as in dissenters
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs
the conference drew political dissidents of every ilk
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Recent Examples of dissidents
Advertisement But pro-democracy figures have argued that local governance has grown increasingly aligned with the mainland as political dissidents have either been jailed or exiled, organizations have disbanded, and a free press dismantled.
—
Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Beijing’s national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of dissidents; forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband; and neutering the city’s once-raucous political scene.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Authorities have since jailed dozens of dissidents, and shuttered various civil society groups and media outlets; Lai himself was arrested five years ago, and convicted in December.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Both of these groups included dissidents, victims of the ever-tightening repression.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Compare the grievances of these protests with the issues and stakes that dissidents have revealed in Minneapolis.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
The Quds Force, as well as Iranian intelligence agencies, are believed to have hired criminal gangs and others to target dissidents and Iran’s perceived enemies abroad.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Putin's decades-long rule in Russia has included allegedly orchestrating dozens of murders of dissidents like Alexei Navalny, using the country as his personal piggy bank and kidnapping thousands of Ukrainian children.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Beijing’s national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of dissidents; forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband; and neutering the city’s once-raucous political scene.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Authorities have since jailed dozens of dissidents, and shuttered various civil society groups and media outlets; Lai himself was arrested five years ago, and convicted in December.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Both of these groups included dissidents, victims of the ever-tightening repression.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Compare the grievances of these protests with the issues and stakes that dissidents have revealed in Minneapolis.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
The Quds Force, as well as Iranian intelligence agencies, are believed to have hired criminal gangs and others to target dissidents and Iran’s perceived enemies abroad.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Putin's decades-long rule in Russia has included allegedly orchestrating dozens of murders of dissidents like Alexei Navalny, using the country as his personal piggy bank and kidnapping thousands of Ukrainian children.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissidents
dissenters
Noun
-
However, such a storied brand as Clinique even knows a universally flattering shade can still have its dissenters.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Demanding papers, dragging away dissenters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dissidents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissidents. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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