ter·ror·ist
ˈter-ər-ist 
plural terrorists
: an advocate or practitioner of terrorism as a means of coercion
Opposition still runs high to the idea of releasing or bringing into U.S. prisons dozens of men widely considered dangerous terrorists even if many are not.
Less than three weeks before the Winter Olympics are set to begin in the Russian city of Sochi, police there have begun hunting for suspected terrorists allegedly plotting attacks.—
Time
Time
: or, relating to, or characteristic of terrorists or terrorism : practicing or involving violent acts of terror
a terrorist organization
The consequences of the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks of September 2001 will ramify for decades.—Joe Klein
Joe KleinThere is no margin for error when a real terrorist threat is present and the safety of the public, and the first responders, is in jeopardy.—Gary J. Laughlin
Gary J. LaughlinExamples of terrorist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Quigley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
His column is fraught with stoking fear that these identifying as X and then entering the country will, of course, be terrorists.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2025
Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
In 2002, the game in New Orleans had to be pushed back from Jan. 27, 2002 to Feb. 3, 2002, because the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. caused the regular season games to be postponed for a week.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
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Noun
After a 16-month war that started with the horrific killing of 1,200 innocent Israelis and abduction of 250 more by Hamas terrorists and then the killing of more than 47,500 people in Gaza — mostly women and children — a fragile ceasefire began Jan. 19.
—Mike Quigley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
His column is fraught with stoking fear that these identifying as X and then entering the country will, of course, be terrorists.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Once in the Big Easy, Trump headed to the Caesars Superdome before kickoff to meet with the participants in the honorary coin toss, including the families of victims of the deadly New Year's Day terrorist attack, police and emergency personnel.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
In 2002, the game in New Orleans had to be pushed back from Jan. 27, 2002 to Feb. 3, 2002, because the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. caused the regular season games to be postponed for a week.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Terrorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorist. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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