as in moderate
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas
several centrist candidates were elected, apparently in a reaction against the extremists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of centrist
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
In major votes in Canada and Australia over the past two weeks, centrists saw their fortunes revived, while parties that had borrowed from the MAGA playbook lost out.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 4 May 2025
But that’s not the preference for all members, especially centrists.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Vatican experts have considered Leo XIV more of a centrist than his liberal-leaning predecessor, but also mirrors Pope Francis’ championing of the poor.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Noun
What to Know Lawler, a centrist who has been floated as a potential gubernatorial candidate, faced heckling from the audience during the town hall event in Somers on Sunday.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
In major votes in Canada and Australia over the past two weeks, centrists saw their fortunes revived, while parties that had borrowed from the MAGA playbook lost out.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 4 May 2025
But that’s not the preference for all members, especially centrists.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Vatican experts have considered Leo XIV more of a centrist than his liberal-leaning predecessor, but also mirrors Pope Francis’ championing of the poor.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrist
Adjective
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Increasing temperatures and mild to moderate winds are anticipated through the weekend.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2025
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The smoke has drifted south and east, creating moderate air quality levels for a large swath of central and southeastern states, according to AirNow.gov.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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That message is in part one of necessity, given that the threat of dramatically higher tariff rates is the central leverage the administration is using in the 18 separate bilateral trade talks that the administration says are underway.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
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The incident's central command constantly receives progress reports from firefighters on the ground.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrist. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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