Power Suffixes for Ninth Grade Students: -ism

The suffix -ism is added to words to mean "the process or action of" or "the system, principle, or theory of." We're sure you'll learn these -ism words with optimism!
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. criticism
    a serious examination and judgment of something
    That’s more or less how I remembered “Election” until I watched it again recently, and 20 years of accumulated criticism suggests that I’m not alone. New York Times (Aug 1, 2019)
  2. baptism
    a sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth
    Maybe the sin will be washed away, kind of like what’s supposed to happen in baptism. P.S. I Miss You
  3. journalism
    the profession of reporting or editing news stories
    I earned a master’s degree in journalism and took the first job offered, as a sports writer. Tuesdays with Morrie
  4. realism
    artistic movement that represents the world accurately
    While the original artist says the bust was supposed to be a representation, Herbert says, “enough of the symbolism, we want realism.” Seattle Times (Oct 23, 2018)
  5. optimism
    the hopeful feeling that all is going to turn out well
    In fact, they were so heartened by their success that not even the morning’s hidden-message broadcasts dimmed their optimism. The Mysterious Benedict Society
  6. organism
    a living thing that can act or function independently
    Technically, international guidelines on interplanetary contamination don’t prohibit sending biological matter and organisms to the lunar surface, since most living creatures can’t survive there. The Verge (Aug 16, 2019)
  7. mechanism
    device consisting of a piece of machinery
    Styx brought up a fishing pole and studied the winding mechanism. The Season of Styx Malone
  8. naturalism
    an artistic movement emphasizing realistic description
    We think of Renoir as an impressionist and associate impressionism with naturalism: natural light, natural landscapes. Washington Post (Jun 24, 2019)
  9. atheism
    the doctrine or belief that there is no God
    Others preferred to keep their distance, indicative of a country where atheism is on the rise, some churches are being decommissioned, and priests are being imported from other countries. Washington Post (Aug 24, 2018)
  10. despotism
    a form of government in which the ruler is unconstrained
    A system like despotism or tyranny or fascism is really not a political ideology so much as a collective state of poor health that leads eventually to harm for the collective body. Salon (Sep 21, 2018)
  11. imperialism
    a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries
    While I abhorred the notion of British imperialism, I never rejected the trappings of British style and manners. Long Walk to Freedom
  12. magnetism
    attraction for iron
    For now, the 2D magnets will enable physicists to perform previously impossible experiments and test fundamental theories of magnetism. Nature (Jun 6, 2017)
  13. fanaticism
    excessive intolerance of opposing views
    Moderation implies prudence, humility to recognize limits, and an aversion to fanaticism and utopian visions. Washington Post (Jul 5, 2019)
  14. feminism
    a doctrine that advocates equal rights for women
    Wolitzer’s 12th novel takes up the subject of intergenerational feminism, told through the story of a young woman and her entry into the women’s movement. New York Times (May 24, 2019)
  15. skepticism
    doubt about the truth of something
    “And what exactly did I say?” asked Hermione, her tone somewhere between skepticism and curiosity. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Created on Fri Jun 06 12:01:38 EDT 2025 (updated Fri Jun 06 18:09:55 EDT 2025)

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