anti-incumbent

adjective

an·​ti-in·​cum·​bent ˌan-tē-in-ˈkəm-bənt How to pronounce anti-incumbent (audio) ˌan-tī- How to pronounce anti-incumbent (audio)
: characterized by or expressing opposition to or disapproval of current political officeholders
Some would argue that 1994 was a mere extension of the anti-incumbent mood in 1992 that toppled President George Bush …—Donald R. Wolfensberger

Examples of anti-incumbent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But when anti-incumbent challenges succeed in Senate races, things get unpredictable. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 May 2026 That strategy seemed aimed at riding the worldwide rightward, anti-incumbent currents that dominated last year. — Victoria Kim, New York Times, 2 May 2025 If enough Boca Raton voters are fed up with this ugly trend — and strong signs show an anti-incumbent backlash in the city — the insurgent Liebelson could win. — Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026 The results of early primary elections in North Carolina and Texas last month suggested an anti-incumbent mood. — Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anti-incumbent

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anti-incumbent was in 1893

Rhymes for anti-incumbent

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Browse Nearby Words

anti-imperialism
anti-incumbent
anti-industry
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Cite this Entry

“Anti-incumbent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-incumbent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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