exceptionalist
National superiority advocate
Someone who believes their nation, group, or self is exempt from ordinary rules or historical patterns.
American exceptionalism holds that the United States operates outside forces that shape other nations.
The term often carries critical overtones, suggesting the belief is self-serving: The exceptionalists think the usual consequences won't apply to them.
Devotion to one's homeland
- jingoismBellicose extreme patriotism
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- chauvinismMilitant devotion to group
manifest destiny · national pride · sovereignty · isolationism · protectionism · xenophobia · populism · self-determination
Readily identifiable, set apart
- singularOne in number
- unprecedentedNever having occurred before
- unparalleledHaving no equivalent
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
outlier · peculiarity · idiosyncrasy · novelty · rarity · originality · differentiation · nonconformist
Highest rank or power
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
elitism · world leader · superpower · primacy · paramountcy · top-tier · privileged · influential
Divinely selected group
- predestinationDivinely predetermined fate
- national mythIdealized collective origin story
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- inevitabilityQuality of being unavoidable
promised land · providential · covenant · founding myth · origin story · golden age
Established body of teachings
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- creedStatement of belief
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
expansionism · propaganda · cultural relativism · sectarianism · realpolitik · geopolitics · geostrategy · interventionism
patriotism
Devotion to one's homeland
- jingoismBellicose extreme patriotism
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
chauvinism · manifest destiny · national pride · sovereignty · isolationism · protectionism · xenophobia · populism · self-determination · autarky
distinctive
Readily identifiable, set apart
- singularOne in number
- unprecedentedNever having occurred before
- unparalleledHaving no equivalent
anomaly · outlier · peculiarity · idiosyncrasy · novelty · rarity · originality · differentiation · nonconformist · maverick
supremacy
Highest rank or power
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
- hegemonyDominant group's control
ascendancy · elitism · world leader · superpower · primacy · paramountcy · top-tier · privileged · influential · powerful
chosen people
Divinely selected group
- predestinationDivinely predetermined fate
- national mythIdealized collective origin story
- destinyPredetermined course of events
inevitability · promised land · providential · covenant · founding myth · origin story · golden age
doctrine
Established body of teachings
imperialism · expansionism · propaganda · cultural relativism · sectarianism · realpolitik · geopolitics · geostrategy · interventionism · civilizing mission
exceptionalistuniversalist
Believer in absolute principles
comparativist · egalitarian · cosmopolitan · internationalist · globalist
exceptionalistuniversalist
Believer in absolute principles
egalitarian · uniformitarian · even-handed · rule-bound · consistent
- human exceptionalism
- American exceptionalismBelief U.S. is uniquely virtuous