dissident

adjective

dis·​si·​dent ˈdi-sə-dənt How to pronounce dissident (audio)
Synonyms of dissident
: disagreeing especially with an established religious or political system, organization, or belief
dissident elements in the armed forces
dissident noun

Synonyms of dissident

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Examples of dissident in a Sentence

dissident elements within the Catholic Church
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rita Flores, a former member of the protest art collective Pussy Riot, alleged in an interview on Monday that members of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) had recruited her to spy on dissident artists. — News Desk, Artforum, 26 Aug. 2026 Projects must be led by LGBTQ+ directors and screenwriters, or by professionals whose dissident gender identities and expressions inform their creative perspectives. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit comes less than a year after Schwapp asked state officials to prosecute dissident Town Council member Shamar Mahon for allegedly living in Hartford while serving in Bloomfield. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026 The operation, conducted by the army and the Colombian Aerospace Force in the municipality of Mapiripán, also killed three other members of the dissident group, De la Espriella said Sunday. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissident

Word History

Etymology

Latin dissident-, dissidens, present participle of dissidēre to sit apart, disagree, from dis- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dissident was in 1769

Browse Nearby Words

dissidence
dissident
dissight
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Cite this Entry

“Dissident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissident. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dissident

adjective
dis·​si·​dent ˈdis-əd-ənt How to pronounce dissident (audio)
: disagreeing with an opinion or a group
dissident noun
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