splinter-group
Dissident political faction
A splinter group is a faction that breaks away from a larger organization over disagreements about policy, leadership, or ideology.
The term suggests fragmentation—a piece splitting off from the whole: The splinter group formed its own party after the vote.
Common in political, religious, and activist contexts.
Group within group
- breakawaySudden separation from group
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- sectBreakaway religious faction
- offshootDerivative outgrowth
renegade · rebel · defector · schism · separatist · hardliner · radical · extremist
Sudden separation from group
- factionGroup within group
- offshootDerivative outgrowth
- rivalOne who competes against
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
split · secession · dissent · exodus · departure · mutiny · rebellion · infighting
Breakaway religious faction
- cultFervent fringe group
- denominationNamed religious group
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- schismaticOne who divides believers
dissenter · reformist · apostate · heterodox · fundamentalist · separatist · offshoot · branch
faction
Group within group
- breakawaySudden separation from group
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- sectBreakaway religious faction
offshoot · renegade · rebel · defector · schism · separatist · hardliner · radical · extremist · caucus
breakaway
Sudden separation from group
defection · split · secession · dissent · exodus · departure · mutiny · rebellion · infighting · coup
sect
Breakaway religious faction
- cultFervent fringe group
- denominationNamed religious group
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
schismatic · dissenter · reformist · apostate · heterodox · fundamentalist · separatist · offshoot · branch · congregation
splinter-groupmother church
Principal church of diocese
mainstream · main branch · establishment · headquarters · core group
splinter-groupunited front
Coalition presenting as one
coalition · alliance · federation · union · big tent
splinter-groupmainstream
Dominant cultural current
mass movement · big tent · broad coalition · majority party · power base
splinter, group, splinters, splintered, splintering, splintery, groups, grouped, grouping