interventionist

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person, especially a government or leader, who believes in getting actively involved in other countries' or people's problems.

   Grammar: Countable: 'an interventionist' or 'interventionists'.

   Patterns

   • a military interventionist
   • an economic interventionist

   Critics called the president an interventionist for sending troops abroad.

   The debate split the party between interventionists and isolationists.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Supporting active involvement, especially by a government in another country's affairs or in an economy.

   Grammar: Can be graded: 'more interventionist policies'.

   Patterns

   • interventionist policy
   • interventionist approach
   • interventionist foreign policy

   The country adopted a more interventionist foreign policy.

   Her interventionist approach to teaching means she guides every group closely.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nounmedicalspecialist

   Relating to a method of therapy in which someone actively steps in to help a person change harmful behavior.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: 'interventionist treatment'.

   Patterns

   • interventionist therapy
   • interventionist program

   The clinic offers an interventionist program for addiction.

   Doctors debated whether an interventionist approach was appropriate.

Word forms

Common combinations

interventionist policy

The government announced a more interventionist policy on prices.

interventionist foreign policy

His interventionist foreign policy drew sharp criticism.

military interventionist

The senator was labeled a military interventionist.

interventionist approach

Teachers here favor a hands-on, interventionist approach.

economic interventionist

Economic interventionists want the state to guide industry.

Synonyms and how they differ

activist

An activist pushes for social or political change, often outside government; an interventionist usually supports state action.

interfering

'Interfering' is negative and means getting involved where you are not wanted; 'interventionist' is a neutral political label.

Opposites

Word family

intervention noun

The act of becoming involved to change a situation.

intervene verb

To step in and try to change what is happening.

interventionism noun

The policy or belief in active involvement.

Commonly confused: interventionist or intervention?

Practice

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