fellow traveler
Sympathizer alongside you
A fellow traveler is someone who shares a journey with you, literally or figuratively.
The term took on political meaning in the mid-20th century for a person who sympathizes with a movement—especially communism—without formally joining it: McCarthy accused him of being a fellow traveler.
The implication is often that the person provides cover or legitimacy while maintaining deniability.
More neutrally, fellow travelers are simply those who share your path or beliefs: She found fellow travelers among the other activists.
One who shares feelings
- communistCollectivist political adherent
- socialistProponent of collective ownership
- marxistFollower of socialist ideology
- leftistAdvocate for progressive politics
progressive · radical · collaborator · partisan · ideologue · activist · dissident · subversive
Fellow member, shared cause
- allySupportive partner
- friendNon-kin mutual bond
- partnerOne who shares activity
- associateConnect mentally or socially
colleague · peer · confidant · acquaintance · compatriot · mate · buddy · pal
Long-distance journey taker
- wayfarerTraveler, especially walking
- pilgrimReligious journey-taker
- backpackerTraveler carrying supplies
- globetrotterFrequent international voyager
tourist · nomad · wanderer · trekker · sojourner · rambler · expeditioner · itinerant
sympathizer
One who shares feelings
- communistCollectivist political adherent
- socialistProponent of collective ownership
- marxistFollower of socialist ideology
leftist · progressive · radical · collaborator · partisan · ideologue · activist · dissident · subversive · McCarthyism
comrade
Fellow member, shared cause
associate · colleague · peer · confidant · acquaintance · compatriot · mate · buddy · pal · cohort
voyager
Long-distance journey taker
- wayfarerTraveler, especially walking
- pilgrimReligious journey-taker
- backpackerTraveler carrying supplies
globetrotter · tourist · nomad · wanderer · trekker · sojourner · rambler · expeditioner · itinerant · drifter
- travel companionsfriend, spouse, partner, husband, wife
- communismMarx, Marxism, Leninism, Lenin, proletariat
- Red ScareHUAC, McCarthyism, blacklist, loyalty oaths, Joe McCarthy
- peerspeer, classmate, colleague, coworker, teammate
- Cold WarBerlin Wall, Iron Curtain, arms race, Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis
- CommunistsMarx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao
fellow travelercard-carrying member
Officially enrolled organization adherent
party member · true believer · full member · insider · cadre
fellow traveleropponent
One who contends against
adversary · antagonist · enemy · anti-communist · dissident
fellow travelerdefector
One who abandons allegiance
apostate · turncoat · renegade · whistleblower · disaffected
traveler, fellow, traveling, traveled, travelling, travelled, fellow travelers, traveller, travelers