Extremist

noun; also adjective

/ɪkˈstriːmɪst/

In the context of the Indian national movement, a member of the assertive nationalist faction within the Indian National Congress (c. 1905-1919) who rejected moderate constitutional methods and advocated Swadeshi, Boycott, national education, and passive resistance to achieve Swaraj.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

A resilient democracy counters the extremist not merely through coercive policing but by addressing the socio-economic alienation and ideological vacuum on which radicalisation feeds, thereby denying violent fringes their reservoir of recruits.

Synonyms

radicalfanaticzealothardlinermilitantultra

Antonyms

moderatecentristconservative (in the cautious sense)pragmatist

🌱 Word Family

extremism (n), extreme (adj/n), extremely (adv), extremity (n), extremists (n pl)

🔡 Root

Latin extrēmus = outermost, utmost; -ist = suffix denoting a person who holds a belief; attested c. 1806

📜 Etymology

From Latin extrēmus ("outermost, utmost") + -ist (suffix denoting a person who holds a belief); first attested in English c. 1806.

🧠 Memory Hook

EXTREME + -ist: one who lives at the EXTREME edge of the spectrum, refusing all middle ground.

🏛️ History & Culture 📖 Seen in: Extremists & Swadeshi Movement (1905–1...

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