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
Ryan Lucas, NPR, 30 Jan. 2025
In the closing days of his presidency, Joe Biden removed Cuba from the list, even though the communist regime has given safe harbor to scores of fugitives and terrorists.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
These words – invasion, emergency, terrorist organizations – have legal meanings that give the president particular powers to mobilize the U.S. military.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025
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Noun
Patel is now President Trump's pick to lead the FBI, the country's premier law enforcement agency, which is responsible for everything from catching terrorists and spies to investigating cyberattacks and public corruption.
—Ryan Lucas, NPR, 30 Jan. 2025
In the closing days of his presidency, Joe Biden removed Cuba from the list, even though the communist regime has given safe harbor to scores of fugitives and terrorists.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The news comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 recommending that the State Department start the process of designating the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang as a foreign terrorist organization.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
These words – invasion, emergency, terrorist organizations – have legal meanings that give the president particular powers to mobilize the U.S. military.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for terrorist
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Cite this Entry
“Terrorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorist. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
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