dissenters

IPA/dɪsˈɛntəz/
KK[dɪsˈɛntɚz]IPA/dɪsˈɛntərz/

dissenters — noun

1. people who openly disagree with a government, church, leader, or widely accepted

1.nounC1
Definition

people who openly disagree with a government, church, leader, or widely accepted idea, especially from inside the group involved.

Example

Religious dissenters met in secret after the ruler banned their meetings.

pattern: dissenters + met in secret after [ban]

Several dissenters inside the party refused to back the new spending plan.

pattern: dissenters inside + group

Common collocations
  • religious dissenters
  • political dissenters
  • party dissenters
  • a group of dissenters
  • silence the dissenters
Synonyms
  • opponents

    Broader and less formal; can refer to any people on the other side of a plan or debate

  • protesters

    Usually suggests public action such as marches, signs, or rallies

  • dissidents

    Stronger and more political, often linked to resistance against an authoritarian state

  • objectors

    Often used for formal or moral refusal in official settings

Antonyms
  • supporters

    People who back the leader, policy, or belief being challenged

  • loyalists

    People who stay firmly loyal to an established ruler, party, or cause

Grammar Patterns

dissenters within + group/party/church

dissenters who + challenge + rule or leader

religious/political dissenters

Usage Note

Common in political, religious, and historical writing, especially for people speaking against authority from within a group. In everyday English, speakers often choose simpler words such as 'opponents' or 'protesters' instead.

Common Mistakes

My cousins are dissenters about spicy food.
My cousins dislike spicy food.
'dissenters' is used for public, political, religious, or official disagreement, not personal taste.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Dissenters' is a formal word for people who openly disagree with a rule, belief, or leadership position, often from inside the group they are criticizing. 'Opponents' is broader and can describe anyone on the other side of a plan or debate. 'Protesters' usually suggests public action in the street, with marches, signs, or chants. 'Objectors' is narrower and often appears in legal, official, or moral refusal. 'Dissidents' is the strongest political term and often implies resistance to an authoritarian state. For example, party dissenters may vote against their own leaders, while protesters gather outside parliament and dissidents may risk prison for speaking out.

opponents ↗protesters ↗objectors ↗dissidents ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • religious dissenters
  • party dissenters
  • a small group of dissenters
  • silence the dissenters

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'dissenters' comes from 'dissenter', which is built from the verb 'dissent' plus the ending '-er' for a person who does something. 'Dissent' goes back to Latin 'dissentire', meaning 'to disagree' or 'feel differently'. The plural form 'dissenters' simply refers to more than one such person.