terrorist
/ˈtɛrərɪst
/noun
A person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims: four commercial aircraft were hijacked by terrorists a suspected terrorist...
- Finally, the last man is an international terrorist on his way to the airport to hijack a plane.
- So did you know that terrorists need places to live, a plan, money and equipment?
- I believe what they mean is that they are fighting terrorists and leaving them no safe haven.
Synonyms
bomber, arsonist, incendiary;
gunman, assassin, desperado;
hijacker;
revolutionary, radical, guerrilla, urban guerrilla, subversive, anarchist, freedom fighter
rare insurrectionist, insurrectionary
adjective [attributive]
Unlawfully using violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims: a terrorist organization terrorist attacks
Derivatives
terroristic
- Dostoyevsky's novel is a dark chronicle of the psychology that energized their terroristic brand of nihilism.
- You have to remember in the last two-and-a-half years we've arrested probably over 700 people related to terroristic activity, suspected terrorists.
- It was not difficult for the local population to differentiate between these constructive efforts and the often brutal, terroristic actions of insurgent forces.
terroristically
- Combat against terroristically asymmetric foes is likely to be about as far removed from the ‘clean’ conditions of, say, war at sea or in the desert (where there are no civilians) as can be imagined.
- However, my question is, if you were terroristically inclined, didn't they just give you a perfect idea for mall bomb placement?
- ‘Wouldn't those clear plastic bags be the ideal place to hide a bomb in plain view, if one were terroristically inclined?’
Origin
Late 18th century: from French terroriste, from Latin terror (see terror). The word was originally applied to supporters of the Jacobins in the French Revolution, who advocated repression and violence in pursuit of the principles of democracy and equality.