Maximalists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals or groups advocating for achieving the utmost extent or highest degree in a particular area
2. Those who endorse an approach that seeks to embrace the largest possible scope or intensity, often contrasting with minimalism
3. People committed to pursuing the fullest expression or realization of their ideals, emphasizing abundance over restraint

Etymology: "Maximalists" is the plural of "maximalist," which in turn is built from "maximal" and the suffix "-ist," meaning a person who holds to or supports a particular doctrine or course. "Maximal" comes from Latin "maximus," the superlative of "magnus" ("great"), so the stem itself carries the sense of "greatest" or "largest" before any suffix is added. The "-ist" ending was attached by analogy with "minimalist," the older and more familiar term for someone who favours the smallest possible course of action. The pairing is deliberate in form: a maximalist is, in effect, the opposite of a minimalist, pressing for the greatest extent of a demand, goal or programme rather than the least. The plural simply names a group of such supporters, and the word is most often used in political and economic debate.

Synonyms: extremists, purists

Antonyms: minimalists