Definition

A person who uses violence or illegal actions to protect the environment or to promote ecological causes.

Example

The group was labeled as ecoterrorists after they vandalized a logging site to protest deforestation.

Conversation

Did you hear about that protest last week?

Yeah, I heard some people were calling the organizers ecoterrorists.

That's a pretty strong label for just wanting to protect the environment.

I agree, it can be a bit extreme to label them like that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ecoterrorist → It is formed from "eco-" (from Greek "oikos", meaning house or environment) and "terrorist" (from Latin "terrorista", meaning one who causes fear). The word describes a person who uses violence or intimidation in the name of environmental activism, thus creating fear related to ecological issues.

Memory Tip

Think of 'eco-' as relating to the environment and 'terrorist' as someone who instills fear. This helps you remember that an ecoterrorist is someone who uses fear tactics for environmental causes.

Visually Confused Words