ac·tiv·ist
ˈak-ti-vist 
plural activists
: one who advocates or practices activism : a person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue
Antiwar activists were protesting in the streets.
an environmental activist
political activists
The conventional wisdom is that young people no longer care enough to stand up for what is important; that the days of activism and protest have faded into the past, the bailiwick of aging hippies and activists.—
The Easton (Massachusetts) Journal
The Easton (Massachusetts) Journal
activistic
adjective
What is news to me … is how much alike were the fears and concerns of both activistic Democrats and skeptical Republicans …
—Nathan Glazer
Nathan Glazer
: advocating or practicing activism : using or supporting strong actions in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue
For the activist groups that will carry the nomination fight to the public, the name of the game is hit early and often.—Richard Lacayo
Richard LacayoPressing demands that are both global and granular, the activist investor has turned himself into one of the food sector's most influential players, affecting how millions of people eat each day.—Julie Jargon
Julie JargonThey plan to become activist shareholders who will protest global-warming resolutions and anything else that undermines corporate profitability.—John J. Miller
John J. MillerExamples of activist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebLiam Quinn, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024
Neighborhood activists and entrepreneurs say the years since severe pandemic hardships haven't eased the stress on the community.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 23 May 2024
An activist, pro-business U.S. Supreme Court overturned both laws.
—Janet Golden / Made By History, TIME, 23 May 2024
For the rest of her days, Wells lived the life of an itinerant activist.
—Faron Levesque, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
However, the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy isn’t without contention, as climate activists and coal advocates clash over the best approach.
—Cecilia Garzella, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
Jenn Budd is an analyst, activist and former Senior Border Patrol Agent in San Diego, California.
—Jenn Budd, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
The center was launched in 2017 with a $6 million grant from the charitable foundation led by climate activist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
—Daniel Bice, Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2024
The attack on student activists widens Biden’s generational gap, his limited capacity to hear and resonate with the moral aspirations of America’s youth.
—Bruce Fuller, Orange County Register, 12 May 2024
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 25 May 2024
Starting Tuesday, Bartley will serve as managing deputy of external relations, tasked with working more closely with the unions, activist organizations and neighborhood groups that helped make Johnson mayor.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2024
On today's The Excerpt podcast, an activist group with ties to old groups that funded Hamas.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 22 May 2024
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, an activist organization that aims to protect endangered species, wolves have made a recovery, but not enough to no longer need some kind of protection and management.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2024
Tang, the world’s first openly transgender minister, played a pivotal role in all of this, first as an activist hacker and then from within the government.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 20 May 2024
Juniper had to fend off activist investors buying up shares in 2013, and Goldman was there too.
—Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 18 May 2024
Over the years, the high-wattage festival has allowed some political and activist events.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 14 May 2024
More than a few say the activist professors are romanticizing the demonstrations, which have thrown campuses into chaos.
—Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 2 May 2024
Noun
The award, meanwhile, was given out by the Elevate Prize Foundation at its annual Make Good Famous Summit, at which several activists and entrepreneurs were also recognized for their work.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024
Neighborhood activists and entrepreneurs say the years since severe pandemic hardships haven't eased the stress on the community.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 23 May 2024
An activist, pro-business U.S. Supreme Court overturned both laws.
—Janet Golden / Made By History, TIME, 23 May 2024
For the rest of her days, Wells lived the life of an itinerant activist.
—Faron Levesque, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
However, the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy isn’t without contention, as climate activists and coal advocates clash over the best approach.
—Cecilia Garzella, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
Jenn Budd is an analyst, activist and former Senior Border Patrol Agent in San Diego, California.
—Jenn Budd, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
The center was launched in 2017 with a $6 million grant from the charitable foundation led by climate activist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
—Daniel Bice, Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2024
The attack on student activists widens Biden’s generational gap, his limited capacity to hear and resonate with the moral aspirations of America’s youth.
—Bruce Fuller, Orange County Register, 12 May 2024
Adjective
Police departments require more resources to combat crime and need intellectual and legal support to resist activist pressures.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 25 May 2024
Starting Tuesday, Bartley will serve as managing deputy of external relations, tasked with working more closely with the unions, activist organizations and neighborhood groups that helped make Johnson mayor.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2024
On today's The Excerpt podcast, an activist group with ties to old groups that funded Hamas.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 22 May 2024
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, an activist organization that aims to protect endangered species, wolves have made a recovery, but not enough to no longer need some kind of protection and management.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 21 May 2024
Tang, the world’s first openly transgender minister, played a pivotal role in all of this, first as an activist hacker and then from within the government.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 20 May 2024
Juniper had to fend off activist investors buying up shares in 2013, and Goldman was there too.
—Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 18 May 2024
Over the years, the high-wattage festival has allowed some political and activist events.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 14 May 2024
More than a few say the activist professors are romanticizing the demonstrations, which have thrown campuses into chaos.
—Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'activist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Activist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/activist. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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