CONSERVATIVES Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

conservatives

noun

plural of conservative

as in Tories

a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are proposed legislation that was opposed by conservatives throughout the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of conservatives The biggest shock was Roberts’s failure to bring more of the conservatives on board. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Continue reading … OPINION DAVID MARCUS – Don't blame conservatives. — FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Before Cunningham, the focus of conservatives’ praise and concern was the Fever’s young star guard Caitlin Clark — the all-time scoring leader in women’s or men’s Division I college basketball and, like Cunningham, a white player. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 He was sometimes criticized by progressive Democrats as being too professorial and by conservatives as being too progressive. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 Georgia conservatives may be trying to separate themselves from Collins given an ongoing House ethics investigation and accusations that Collins has been financially supporting white supremacists, one of whom is his own son-in-law. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 These developments appear to mirror a larger pattern among conservatives throughout the United States. — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Once a lawyerly panel, a takeover by a trio of conservatives deeply mistrustful of the state’s voting system has turned the board’s once mundane meetings into boisterous events packed with crowds of cheering and jeering activists. — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026 But some prominent conservatives in recent years have called for its elimination, saying the federal government should get out of the education business at every level. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for conservatives

Noun

That is, rightists who oppose aid to Ukraine tend to be skeptical of Israel and at least open to having anti-Semites in the Republican coalition.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Historians have pointed to Hodge’s early support of reactionary rightists, including industrialists, landlords, and businessmen—people who were associated with Japanese rule.

— Kornel Chang September 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025

Definition of rightists

Noun

Bass’ absence from the city soon caught the eye of right-wingers, with Spencer Pratt, who ran against her in the nonpartisan primary election, and Steve Hilton, who is running for governor, among those critiquing her.

— Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
Gratified right-wingers closely examined the charges and pointed to the prosecution as validation of their belief that conservative Christians across America are being oppressed by violent left-leaning protesters.

— Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026

Definition of right-wingers

Noun

For traditionalists, there’s plenty to choose from, but the specials are surely worth the detour.

— Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
After that dispiriting loss in Bosnia, traditionalists opened up to the radical, counter-cultural Guardiola option.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of traditionalists

Noun

Suu Kyi is serving her sentence under house arrest at an undisclosed location in the capital Naypyitaw, on charges that her supporters and rights groups have said are politically motivated.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
The Coastal Commission is widely expected to take any adverse ruling to court, potentially arguing that the federal government can’t deny a state its fundamental rights — in this case, a say over projects that affect its economy — over politics.

— Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of rights

Noun

But to his legions of enemies — from MAGA reactionaries to the Anti-Defamation League to mere centrist Democrats — Piker is a loudmouth extremist who’s actively harming the country.

— Josh Eells, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Some reactionaries will always find a reason to demand all-white entertainment, regardless of whether there are mermaids, hobbits, or lightsabers involved.

— Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

Definition of reactionaries

Browse Nearby Words

conservativeness

conservatives

conservator

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Conservatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservatives. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of conservatives

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on conservatives

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

zeugma

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes