as in conservativeness
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions
the state's well-known conservatism means that progressive legislation always has an uphill battle
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Recent Examples of conservatism
My best guess is that there remains a decline in small-c conservatism relative to conservatism as defined by the shifting ideological musings of the modern Republican Party.
—
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Her campaign drew on the enduring appeal of Fujimorismo—a political current associated with her father’s rule that combines strong executive leadership, political conservatism, and a hard-line approach to security.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026
His ritualized nature contains an element of conservatism.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
During this period, Dhillon moved away from the Review’s gleeful offensiveness toward positions suggesting a more moderate conservatism.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservatism
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Her campaign drew on the enduring appeal of Fujimorismo—a political current associated with her father’s rule that combines strong executive leadership, political conservatism, and a hard-line approach to security.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026
His ritualized nature contains an element of conservatism.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
During this period, Dhillon moved away from the Review’s gleeful offensiveness toward positions suggesting a more moderate conservatism.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservatism
Cite this Entry
“Conservatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservatism. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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