oppositionists
Those resisting authority
Oppositionists are members or supporters of an opposition, especially a political opposition party or movement.
The term often appears in contexts involving authoritarian regimes, where oppositionists face persecution: The government arrested leading oppositionists before the election.
It can also describe those who habitually oppose prevailing views or policies within any organization.
One who revolts
- rebelAuthority defier
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- mutineerSailor who revolts
insurrectionist · radical · subversive · militant · extremist · saboteur · secessionist · freedom fighter
Open resistance to authority
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
activism · solidarity · demonstration · strike · sit-in · obstruction · underground movement · samizdat
Opposer of established systems
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- criticOne who judges merit
- objectorOne who formally disagrees
protester · skeptic · questioner · doubter · iconoclast · heretic · freethinker · refusenik
Outnumbered legislative faction
- shadow cabinetOpposition's parallel leadership team
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- blocAllied group sharing interests
- factionGroup within group
caucus · backbencher · filibuster · legislative · bipartisan · cross-party · political rival
insurgent
One who revolts
- rebelAuthority defier
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
mutineer · insurrectionist · radical · subversive · militant · extremist · saboteur · secessionist · freedom fighter · resistance fighter
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
noncompliance · activism · solidarity · demonstration · strike · sit-in · obstruction · underground movement · samizdat · passive resistance
dissident
Opposer of established systems
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- criticOne who judges merit
objector · protester · skeptic · questioner · doubter · iconoclast · heretic · freethinker · refusenik · naysayer
minority party
Outnumbered legislative faction
- shadow cabinetOpposition's parallel leadership team
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- blocAllied group sharing interests
faction · caucus · backbencher · filibuster · legislative · bipartisan · cross-party · political rival
oppositionistsloyalists
Faithful to established authority
supporters · incumbents · adherents · partisans · allies
oppositionistsconformists
Those obeying social norms
collaborators · yes-men · traditionalists · bootlickers · sycophants