as in moderate
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas
several centrist candidates were elected, apparently in a reaction against the extremists
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reformer
a person who holds moderate views
the centrists will most likely rally behind the candidate who favors reforming the government program—not abolishing it entirely
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Recent Examples of centrist
Alexander Smith, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
Swalwell, a centrist compared with many in California’s congressional delegation, earned the enduring enmity of the president and his followers during the first Trump administration, when the congressman was a constant presence and unrelenting critic on social media and the cable TV circuit.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
Congressional Democrats and Republicans in swing districts like us go by many different Washington monikers: moderates, centrists, battlegrounders, etc.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
In this light, soft skills can be seen as a workplace corollary to centrists’ pleas for a right wing that doesn’t storm the Capitol and a left that doesn’t take up space on the campus lawn.
—Lily Scherlis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Noun
Its rise is part of a Europe-wide trend alarming liberals and centrists, whereby once-fringe nationalist parties are making striding gains across the continent at the expense of the political establishment.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
Swalwell, a centrist compared with many in California’s congressional delegation, earned the enduring enmity of the president and his followers during the first Trump administration, when the congressman was a constant presence and unrelenting critic on social media and the cable TV circuit.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
Congressional Democrats and Republicans in swing districts like us go by many different Washington monikers: moderates, centrists, battlegrounders, etc.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
In this light, soft skills can be seen as a workplace corollary to centrists’ pleas for a right wing that doesn’t storm the Capitol and a left that doesn’t take up space on the campus lawn.
—Lily Scherlis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrist
Adjective
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Those with mild to moderate disease can be given oral rehydration solutions.—
Mark Kortepeter,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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As governments around the world debate whether the new regime is as moderate and pragmatic as its leaders claim, this book presents an insightful study of a shapeshifting operation.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The forthcoming rain was good news for crews battling a wildfire in central New Jersey that erupted on April 22 and has consumed 12,250 acres.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Vardy emerged as the central character in the fairytale that followed.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrist. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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