heresiarch

noun

hə-ˈrē-zē-ˌärk How to pronounce heresiarch (audio)
Definition of heresiarchnext
as in dissenter
a person who believes, teaches, or advocates something opposed to accepted beliefs his about-face on welfare reform has led him to be seen as a heresiarch among his party's faithful

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heresiarch
  1. dissenter
  2. dissident
  3. renegade
Noun
  • The Basij boosted its presence during the war, and hard-liners have held nightly rallies in Tehran and other cities, drumming up support and intimidating any possible dissenters.
    — Lee Keath, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Since joining the court in 2022, Jackson has become a prolific and passionate dissenter, unafraid to criticize the conservative majority even when her fellow liberal justices do not always join her.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissenter
Noun
  • The dissident, Siamak Tadayon Tahmasbi, had been accused by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence of directing terrorist plots tied to Israeli intelligence.
    — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
  • As Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet premier and promised new openness with a policy of glasnost, a slow thaw would begin toward free speech, human rights, the release of political dissidents and relaxed restrictions on emigration.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissident
Noun
  • In some ways, there is a strange kind of unity to these three—all are set during the Depression, all feature stylish renegades.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In Russell, the director found a star who could match his renegade energy.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of renegade
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Heresiarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heresiarch. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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