WordValedissident
a person who openly opposes an official policy or regime
In more detail
1. (noun) a person who disagrees with and criticizes their government or organization
2. (adjective) disagreeing with or opposed to official policies or beliefs
Examples
- 1. The political dissident was arrested for speaking against the government.
- 2. The dissident voices within the party were eventually heard.
How to use dissident
Dissident refers to someone who openly opposes and criticizes authority, especially political authority, often at personal risk. It carries a tone of principled opposition and is commonly used in political contexts to describe those who resist authoritarian regimes or challenge institutional power. Unlike the more general 'critic,' dissident implies active resistance rather than mere disagreement.
Common phrases
- political dissident
- dissident movement
- dissident voice
- dissident writer
- regime dissident
- brave dissident
Synonyms
rebel · protester · opposition member · critic · nonconformist
Opposites
supporter · loyalist · conformist
Word family
dissidence (noun) · dissent (verb/noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'dissident' too broadly for any disagreement; it is best reserved for principled opposition to established authority or official policy, particularly in political contexts.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD