as in rebel
a person who thinks that a nation, state, etc., should separate from another and become independent
A growing group of secessionists are pushing for the independence of the region.
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Recent Examples of secessionist
There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups and ethnic clashes.
—
Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
The peace agreed to at Dayton left Bosnia, or Bosnia and Herzegovina as it is known in full, intact as a country but divided into two entities, Republika Srpska – a secessionist entity proclaimed by ethnonationalist Serbs in January 1992 – and the Bosnian Federation.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
But the Declaration was also a secessionist document, establishing revolution as a right.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
This scuttles a compromise, whereby paintings of Lee in his prewar blue Army uniform could remain while the portrait of Lee the secessionist and enslaver came down.
—Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secessionist
Fortune, 26 Dec. 2025
The peace agreed to at Dayton left Bosnia, or Bosnia and Herzegovina as it is known in full, intact as a country but divided into two entities, Republika Srpska – a secessionist entity proclaimed by ethnonationalist Serbs in January 1992 – and the Bosnian Federation.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
But the Declaration was also a secessionist document, establishing revolution as a right.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
This scuttles a compromise, whereby paintings of Lee in his prewar blue Army uniform could remain while the portrait of Lee the secessionist and enslaver came down.
—Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secessionist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secessionist
Noun
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Parts of eastern Congo are controlled by armed rebels, hampering the delivery of aid.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
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In addition, the conflict included combat between armed groups, public demonstrations that spontaneously turned hostile, and deliberate acts of violence that targeted noncombatants - such as rebels attacking a village.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Since militants linked to al Qaeda and the northern separatist Tuareg rebels launched simultaneous attacks on April 25 — the most audacious in over a decade — Mali has plunged deeper into chaos.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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The attacks, which have been claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), followed last month's heavy assaults on the government by the group and a Tuareg separatist group, the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 May 2026
Noun
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But even larger numbers of socially conservative white working-class voters in Wales, Scotland and northern England — the traditional bedrock of Labour’s support — switched to Reform, the insurgent party founded by Nigel Farage, the renowned Brexit campaigner.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
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According to the military, security forces launched an operation in the province’s district of Barkhan to rout out insurgents that Islamabad claims are backed by India.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Noun
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There are also alternative – some argue extremist – sites that limit content moderation, including 4chan, BitChute, Gab, GETTR, Parler, Rumble and Truth Social.—
Nathalie Japkowicz,
The Conversation,
18 May 2026
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While those behind the recent maritime raids have yet to be identified, previous ship captures have often involved young Somalis from impoverished communities and armed extremists affiliated with global terror networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Secessionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secessionist. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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