ideologue

noun

ideo·​logue ˈī-dē-ə-ˌlȯg How to pronounce ideologue (audio)
-ˌläg
variants or less commonly idealogue
1
: an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology
2
: an impractical idealist : theorist

Examples of ideologue in a Sentence

as long as there are ideologues controlling both sides of the aisle, legislative compromise is out of the question the revolutionaries proved to be impractical ideologues who had no idea how to run a country
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump’s latest moves to gut the EPA are led by Zeldin, far-right ideologues in the White House and billionaire Elon Musk, whose companies Tesla and SpaceX have been fined by the agency for multiple violations of environmental laws. Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025 Leftist ideologues Michael Moore, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, George Clooney, Darren Aronofsky, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Sean Baker wouldn’t dare such a pronouncement. Armond White, National Review, 19 Mar. 2025 Whether Carr really is a hardcore ideologue or simply an opportunist using the ascendant ideology to gain attention is debated in regulatory circles. Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025 The Putin who has governed Russia this past quarter century is an ideologue. Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ideologue

Word History

Etymology

French idéologue, back-formation from idéologie

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of ideologue was in 1815

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Cite this Entry

“Ideologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideologue. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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