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
Sherman, who had taken Atlanta in September, intended to defeat the Confederacy by inflicting on its heartland the terrible consequences of a war the Southern secessionists had begun.
—
Brenda Wineapple, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Make Deals, Not War What do secessionist movements in Cameroon, Nigeria and Somalia have in common?
—Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
And even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective, it could not be enforced in secessionist states still under Confederate control, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 13 May 2024
In 1994: Russian tanks and troops invaded its largely Muslim territory Chechnya to try to quash the secessionist rebellion after a three-year push for independence that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for secessionist
Brenda Wineapple, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Make Deals, Not War What do secessionist movements in Cameroon, Nigeria and Somalia have in common?
—Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
And even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective, it could not be enforced in secessionist states still under Confederate control, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 13 May 2024
In 1994: Russian tanks and troops invaded its largely Muslim territory Chechnya to try to quash the secessionist rebellion after a three-year push for independence that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for secessionist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secessionist
Noun
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Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson, said the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, which has been carrying out strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, will stay in the region through this month, though its deployment there was scheduled to have ended at the end of March.—
Haley Britzky,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2025
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The rebels have loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning many vessels could be targeted.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These were followed by the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Quebec separatist Bloc Quebecois.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
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The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group active in the restive and mineral-rich Balochistan province, claimed responsibility for the attack.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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His unit was in western Iraq, at a time of fierce fighting against insurgent forces and car bombs.—
Quil Lawrence,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2025
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From Myanmar comes the story of a student turned insurgent who joined a militant guerilla group set on overthrowing the country’s military junta.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secessionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secessionist. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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