sectarians
Narrow-minded believers
Sectarians are members or adherents of a sect—a group distinguished by particular beliefs or practices, especially within a larger religious tradition.
The word often carries negative connotations, suggesting narrow-mindedness or excessive devotion to one's faction: The sectarians refused to cooperate with other denominations.
In political contexts, sectarian violence refers to conflict between groups defined by religious or ethnic identity.
Rigid interpreters of doctrine
- zealotsFanatical cause followers
- extremistsThose with radical positions
- schismaticsThose causing religious division
- hardlinersUncompromising faction members
dogmatists · purists · factionalists · fanatics · separatists · orthodox · true believers · splinter groups
Staunch factional supporters
- factionalistsPromoters of internal division
- ideologuesAdherents of fixed doctrines
- tribalistsThose favoring their group
- polarizersWave-orientation selectors
hardliners · extremists · loyalists · militants · activists · nationalists · separatists · radicals
Aggressive advocates for causes
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- paramilitariesUnofficial armed organized groups
- combatantsThose engaged in warfare
- fightersThose who engage physically
terrorists · guerrillas · rebels · extremists · radicals · bombers · attackers · aggressors
fundamentalists
Rigid interpreters of doctrine
- zealotsFanatical cause followers
- extremistsThose with radical positions
- schismaticsThose causing religious division
hardliners · dogmatists · purists · factionalists · fanatics · separatists · orthodox · true believers · splinter groups · heretics
partisans
Staunch factional supporters
- factionalistsPromoters of internal division
- ideologuesAdherents of fixed doctrines
- tribalistsThose favoring their group
polarizers · hardliners · extremists · loyalists · militants · activists · nationalists · separatists · radicals · purists
militants
Aggressive advocates for causes
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
- paramilitariesUnofficial armed organized groups
- combatantsThose engaged in warfare
fighters · terrorists · guerrillas · rebels · extremists · radicals · bombers · attackers · aggressors · perpetrators
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- bigotsbigot, bigots, racist, racists, sexist
- dissentersdissenter, dissenters, dissidents, dissident, nonconformists
- faithfulbelievers, faithful, followers, devotees, disciples
- insurgentsinsurgent, guerrillas, guerrilla, rebel, resistance fighters
- English PuritanismPuritanism, Puritans, strict morals, godly, piety
sectariansuniversalists
Believers in common principles
pluralists · unifiers · bridge-builders · moderates · centrists
sectarianscosmopolitans
Worldly, well-traveled people
universalists · pluralists · independents · freethinkers · humanists
sectariansuniters
Those who merge groups
peacemakers · conciliators · bridge-builders · harmonizers · mediators
- sectarian violenceConflict between religious factions
- sectarian conflictFighting between belief factions
- sectarian divideRift between religious factions
- sectarian tensionsHostility between religious factions
- sectarian biasPartiality toward one's own sect