3 syllables: An, arch, ists. Stress on An.
AN-ur-kists
/ˈænɚˌkɪsts/
Anarchists is pronounced AN-ur-kists (/ˈænɚˌkɪsts/). It has three syllables (An-arch-ists), with the stress on "An". Anarchists is the plural noun for people who advocate or engage in anarchism, a political philosophy favoring self-governed, stateless societies. The term labels individuals who oppose hierarchical authority and centralized power, often participating in protests or communities aligned with anarchist principles. It can refer to groups or movements, typically in discussions of political activism or social critique.
nounAnarchists is the plural noun for people who advocate or engage in anarchism, a political philosophy favoring self-governed, stateless societies. The term labels individuals who oppose hierarchical authority and centralized power, often participating in protests or communities aligned with anarchist principles. It can refer to groups or movements, typically in discussions of political activism or social critique.
"The anarchists organized a street demonstration demanding decentralization of state power."
"Several anarchists argued that voluntary associations could replace coercive institutions."
"During the conference, anarchists debated tactics and strategy with other activists."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /æˈnɑːr.tɪsts/ (US) or /əˈnɑːr.tɪsts/ (UK/AU) depending on accent. Start with /æ/ or a schwa to reduce effort before the stressed syllable, then /ˈnɑːr/ as in ‘car’ with a rolling r for many speakers. End with /tɪsts/. Place primary stress on the second syllable: an-AR-chists. Mouth: front lax vowel for the initial /æ/, open-mid to low back for /ɑː/, and a clear alveolar /t/ before the /ɪ/.
Two frequent errors: misplacing the stress (stress on the first or third syllable) and pronouncing /ɑː/ as a short /a/ in US speech. Correction: ensure the second syllable carries primary stress: /æˈnɑːr.tɪsts/. Use a longer /ɑː/ vowel in /ˈnɑːr/ and release the final /tɪsts/ crisply with a light final /s/. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the contrast between /ˈnɑːr/ and /ˈnəd/ in fast speech.
US typically preserves /æ/ in the first syllable and uses a clearer /ɹ/ in /ˈnɑːr/. UK often uses a slightly reduced initial vowel for some speakers, with non-rhotic tendencies in surrounding words; AU leans toward a broader /ɐː/ in some speakers, but /ˈæ/ can still appear. In all, the nucleus around /ˈnɑːr/ remains prominent; the final /tɪsts/ is non-syllabic linked in fast speech. IPA references: US /æˈnɑːrˌtɪsts/, UK /əˈnɑː(r)ˌtɪsts/, AU /əˈnɑːˌtɪsts/.
It challenges you with a three-consonant cluster after the stressed syllable: /ˈnɑːr tɪsts/ where the /rt/ sequence requires a quick, clean articulation and the /ɪsts/ ending is a light, plural-s held-off; the initial /æ/ versus /ə/ can be confusing due to reduced vowels in connected speech. Focus on the stressed /ˈnɑːr/ and keep the final /t/ crisp before the /ɪstə/ in natural continuum.
Does the 'arch' in anarchists rhyme with 'arch' in 'march' or with 'ark' in 'arkansas'? In anarchists, the sequence is /ˈnɑːr/ where arch approximates /ɑːr/ with a rhotic /r/ in rhotic accents; it does not have a true vowel in 'arch' as a standalone /ɑː/ followed by /r/. In non-rhotic accents, the /r/ is weaker, so it may sound closer to /ˈnɑː(ə)ˌtɪsts/ without a pronounced /r/. To be precise, the syllable contains /n-ɑːr/ with an /ɹ/ in rhotic accents.
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US: rhotic /ɹ/ is strong; tense /æ/ in the first vowel; UK/AU: sometimes a more centralized /ə/ before rhotic consonants; the /ɹ/ in US is more pronounced, whereas UK tends to link with following consonants more fluidly. IPA cues: US /æˈnɑːrˌtɪsts/, UK /əˈnɑː(r)ˌtɪsts/, AU /əˈnɑːˌtɪsts/. Keep the vowel length on /ɑː/ as a longer nucleus, and avoid turning /ˈnɑːr/ into /næɹ/ by elongating the /ɑː/.
Anarchists derives from the French anarchiste, from the Greek anarchos (an- ‘without’ + arkhos ‘ruler’) combining with -ist to denote a person who practices or supports a principle or doctrine. The root arkhos, appearing in a range of governance terms, conveys rule or leadership. The first known usages appeared in late 19th-century Europe as scholarly and political writings described adherents to anti-authoritarian ideologies. The word entered English in the 1860s–1870s, reflecting the rise of social movements advocating abolition of hierarchical structures and stateless social order. Early usage often carried intense political charge, sometimes with pejorative connotations in mainstream discourse. Over time, anarchist terminology broadened to reference a spectrum of anti-authoritarian beliefs, from revolutionary organizations to individualist philosophic positions. In modern usage, “anarchists” commonly denotes people who oppose compulsory governance and advocate voluntary association, mutual aid, and direct action. The term is now widely recognized in academic, activist, and media contexts, with varying connotations depending on the political climate and the speaker’s stance. The plural form follows standard English suffixed -ists, indicating adherents of a doctrine.
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Words that rhyme with "Anarchists"
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