controversialist, disputant, eristic - a person who disputes; who is good at or enjoys controversy

abolitionist, emancipationist - a reformer who favors abolishing slavery

birth-control campaigner, birth-control reformer - a social reformer who advocates birth control and family planning

Chartist - a 19th century English reformer who advocated better social and economic conditions for working people

civil rights activist, civil rights leader, civil rights worker - a leader of the political movement dedicated to securing equal opportunity for members of minority groups

protester, demonstrator - someone who participates in a public display of group feeling

dry, prohibitionist - a reformer who opposes the use of intoxicating beverages

conservationist, environmentalist - someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution

feminist, libber, women's liberationist, women's rightist - a supporter of feminism

flower child, hippie, hippy, hipster - someone who rejects the established culture; advocates extreme liberalism in politics and lifestyle

freedom fighter, insurgent, insurrectionist, rebel - a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions)

activist, militant - a militant reformer

non-resistant, passive resister - a reformer who believes in passive resistance

preservationist - someone who advocates the preservation of historical sites or endangered species or natural areas

Utopian - an idealistic (but usually impractical) social reformer; "a Utopian believes in the ultimate perfectibility of man"

Anthony Comstock, Comstock - United States reformer who led moral crusades against art and literature that he considered obscene (1844-1915)

Hus, Huss, Jan Hus, John Huss - Czechoslovakian religious reformer who anticipated the Reformation; he questioned the infallibility of the Catholic Church was excommunicated (1409) for attacking the corruption of the clergy; he was burned at the stake (1372-1415)

Owen, Robert Owen - Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)

Girolamo Savonarola, Savonarola - Italian religious and political reformer; a Dominican friar in Florence who preached against sin and corruption and gained a large following; he expelled the Medici from Florence but was later excommunicated and executed for criticizing the Pope (1452-1498)

Francis Everett Townsend, Townsend - United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)

John Wilkes, Wilkes - English reformer who published attacks on George III and supported the rights of the American colonists (1727-1797)

governing, government activity, governance, government - the act of governing; exercising authority; "regulations for the governing of state prisons"; "he had considerable experience of government"

liberal - tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition