lunatic fringe

noun

: the members of a usually political or social movement espousing extreme, eccentric, or fanatical views

Examples of lunatic fringe in a Sentence

His nomination is opposed by the party's lunatic fringe.
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.
Worst of all, Trump’s moves to control who covers him have moved beyond allowing the lunatic fringe into the briefing room. — Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2025 What will surely rankle climate-change activists is that Pielke seems to focus on the foibles of the consensus scientists rather than on those of the lunatic fringe. — IEEE Spectrum, 3 Jan. 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lunatic fringe was in 1913

Rhymes for lunatic fringe

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Browse Nearby Words

lunatically
lunatic fringe
lunation
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Cite this Entry

“Lunatic fringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lunatic%20fringe. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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