as in conservative
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are
a traditionalist who doesn't believe in expanding government
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Recent Examples of traditionalist
Producer Kathleen Kennedy calls herself a tech optimist and a traditionalist both.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
In response, traditionalists have gnashed their teeth and complained that the dark essence of the music has been lost.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Truck traditionalists and forum gladiators will argue this, of course.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
Formed in 1994, the fellowship has increasingly served as a forum for traditionalist provinces to coordinate responses to doctrinal disputes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
That was a bit of a turnoff for this old traditionalist, who thinks politics has gotten too coarse and foul-mouthed.
—George Skelton, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
That was a bit of a turnoff for this old traditionalist, who thinks politics has gotten too coarse and foul-mouthed.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The good news for the traditionalists is that everyone seems to agree that the FA Cup is still an important endeavour.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Tasked specifically with filming Jackie Kennedy, Maysles did that job and more, capturing telling moments—the future first lady nervously fidgeting with her white gloves, for example—that traditionalists felt should have remained private.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 25 Feb. 2026
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
In response, traditionalists have gnashed their teeth and complained that the dark essence of the music has been lost.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Truck traditionalists and forum gladiators will argue this, of course.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
Formed in 1994, the fellowship has increasingly served as a forum for traditionalist provinces to coordinate responses to doctrinal disputes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
That was a bit of a turnoff for this old traditionalist, who thinks politics has gotten too coarse and foul-mouthed.
—George Skelton, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
That was a bit of a turnoff for this old traditionalist, who thinks politics has gotten too coarse and foul-mouthed.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The good news for the traditionalists is that everyone seems to agree that the FA Cup is still an important endeavour.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Tasked specifically with filming Jackie Kennedy, Maysles did that job and more, capturing telling moments—the future first lady nervously fidgeting with her white gloves, for example—that traditionalists felt should have remained private.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for traditionalist
conservative
Noun
-
Those comments largely served as a testament to the staunch conservative’s willingness to work across the aisle to secure funding for his district.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The court, in which conservatives hold a 6-3 majority, will decide whether to uphold its 1898 ruling that a man born in San Francisco to Chinese parents could be an American citizen.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Traditionalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traditionalist. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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