extremism
Beyond the fringe
Extremism is holding political, religious, or ideological views far outside the mainstream, especially views that advocate radical action or reject compromise.
The term is almost always applied by outsiders—few call themselves extremists: The government cracked down on religious extremism.
What counts as extreme shifts with time and context; yesterday's extremism sometimes becomes tomorrow's orthodoxy.
Strict adherence to core tenets
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- radicalismPursuit of sweeping change
sectarianism · indoctrination · propaganda · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · nationalism · chauvinism · jingoism
Obsessive, unreasoning dedication
- fervorIntense emotional intensity
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- monomaniaFixation on single idea
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
crusade · militancy · bigotry · intolerance · puritanism · evangelism · partisanship · martyrdom
Intimidation through targeted violence
- militancyCombative advocacy stance
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- bombingAttack with explosives
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
massacre · atrocity · paramilitary · guerrilla · sabotage · attack · bloodshed · lynching
Seeking new personnel
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- alienationState of being isolated
disaffection · vulnerable · brainwashing · deradicalization · cult · pipeline · influencer · manifesto
Causing sharp disagreement
- partisanBiased toward one side
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- discordLack of agreement
schism · us-vs-them · factionalism · animosity · hostility · enmity · tribalism · entrenchment
Armed struggle ideology
- neo-NazismRevived totalitarian racial ideology
- IslamismFaith-driven political ideology
- eco-terrorismViolence for environmental causes
- separatismAdvocacy for political breakaway
militia · ISIS · Al-Qaeda · Klan · Hezbollah · Hamas · IRA · ETA
fundamentalism
Strict adherence to core tenets
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
radicalism · sectarianism · indoctrination · propaganda · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · nationalism · chauvinism · jingoism · orthodoxy
fanaticism
Obsessive, unreasoning dedication
- fervorIntense emotional intensity
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- monomaniaFixation on single idea
devotion · crusade · militancy · bigotry · intolerance · puritanism · evangelism · partisanship · martyrdom · self-righteousness
terrorism
Intimidation through targeted violence
- militancyCombative advocacy stance
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- bombingAttack with explosives
assassination · massacre · atrocity · paramilitary · guerrilla · sabotage · attack · bloodshed · lynching · pogrom
recruitment
Seeking new personnel
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- propagandaBiased information for influence
alienation · disaffection · vulnerable · brainwashing · deradicalization · cult · pipeline · influencer · manifesto · messaging
divisive
Causing sharp disagreement
- partisanBiased toward one side
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
discord · schism · us-vs-them · factionalism · animosity · hostility · enmity · tribalism · entrenchment · radicalization
jihadism
Armed struggle ideology
- neo-NazismRevived totalitarian racial ideology
- IslamismFaith-driven political ideology
- eco-terrorismViolence for environmental causes
separatism · militia · ISIS · Al-Qaeda · Klan · Hezbollah · Hamas · IRA · ETA · antifa
- sectarianismsectarianism, sectarian, sect, schism, schismatic
- polarizationpolarizer, divide, polarized light, divisiveness, polarizing filter
- extremismextremists, fanaticism, radicalism, radicalization, radicals
- religious criticismbiblical criticism, problem of evil, theodicy, contradictions, hypocrisy
- social issuesinequality, racism, poverty, illiteracy, homelessness
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
extremismmoderation
Avoidance of excess
centrism · bipartisanship · nonpartisanship · fence-sitting · middle-of-the-road
extremismgradualism
Philosophy of incremental change
incrementalism · reformism · pragmatism · antiextremism · constitutionalism
extremismmoderation
Avoidance of excess
temperance · reasonableness · level-headedness · balance · open-mindedness
- political extremismIdeology at outer fringes
- upper extremityLimb from shoulder down
- religious extremismRadical ideology driven by faith
- extremist ideologyBelief system rejecting compromise
- extremist groupsFactions advocating drastic positions
- lower extremity