as in dogmatic
given to or marked by the forceful expression of strongly held opinions
a doctrinaire conservative, the columnist takes special delight in baiting liberals
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in purist
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2
as in theorist
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doctrinaire
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2024
This doctrinaire and yet thoroughly generic conception of consciousness is, in itself, a bit depressing.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024
Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Schoenborn, 80, the archbishop of Vienna, was a student of Benedict’s, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doctrinaire
Adjective
Back when Republicans were less doctrinaire, few objected to Ronald Reagan’s legalization through legislation on the status of otherwise law-abiding immigrants who crossed illegally or overstayed.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2024
This doctrinaire and yet thoroughly generic conception of consciousness is, in itself, a bit depressing.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024
Noun
Cardinal Robert Sarah – championed by conservatives as reflecting the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI – is among those being considered to replace Pope Francis.
—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn Schoenborn, 80, the archbishop of Vienna, was a student of Benedict’s, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doctrinaire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doctrinaire
Adjective
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One legitimate worry is that some people will be dogmatic and unyielding when courteously informed that AI is not sentient.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Harvard is too hubristic, too fat and prosperous, too insular, too aloof, and too dogmatic to admit that it’s erred ...—
Brian T. Allen,
National Review,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Shifting Your Mindset Is In Some public relations purists argue that putting numbers to narratives diminishes the essence of the work, that introducing metrics into the mix somehow reduces the craft to calculation.—
Chintan Shah,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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For purists, the Urus was already a compromise anyway, seen as necessary to keep the lights on at Lambo and keep supercar development humming—but otherwise a mild shame.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
8 July 2025
Noun
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What is now known as Kepler’s Supernova remained visible to the naked eye for 18 months, and formed the basis for the theorist’s 1606 work, De Stella Nova.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
3 July 2025
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Peter Turchin, a University of Connecticut professor and leading theorist of structural-demographic cycles, sees the current moment as part of a predictable historical pattern.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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One of the people that is most stubborn in their support of these spendy projects is Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana.—
Roger Valdez,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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For indoor brick, keep it simple by trying a slightly damp brush to sweep away stubborn dirt.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
Noun
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Sly had too generous a spirit to be a dogmatist.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
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Although not a dogmatist, Xi cares deeply about ideology and has even blamed the collapse of the Soviet Union in part on Moscow’s failure to ensure that people took Marxism-Leninism seriously.—
Joseph Torigian,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2024
Adjective
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Rhea Perlman and Rita Wilson appear as Jess’ highly opinionated, codependent mother and grandmother.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
8 July 2025
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The show premiered Saturday, April 12, and follows three successful Black men on a quest for love—each with a very opinionated mother (or mother figure) tagging along for the entire ride.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Of course, there are some unrealistic elements in F1, moments that might have sticklers raising an eyebrow, but the film doesn’t feel any less dramatic than the real thing.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2025
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Wilson had always been a stickler in the studio, the perfectionist who kept repeating takes, bean-counters be damned, until the song felt right.—
Elias Leight,
Billboard,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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President Donald Trump has been adamant his tariffs will bring factory jobs back to American shores.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
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Among the holdouts are members of the SALT Caucus, who have been adamant that any deal from the Senate that does not match the one that passed the House is dead on arrival.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doctrinaire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doctrinaire. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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