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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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
Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
Image Image Rising to national prominence in the Senate, Mr. Boren became a centrist, allying himself on many issues with President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, both Republicans.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Barnier, who has only been in power since September as the leader of a minority government backed by centrists and conservatives, attempted to pass part of the budget using a controversial constitutional mechanism that bypassed a vote in the legislature.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
The pushback from centrists is a change of pace, as hard-line conservatives and budget hawks in the House Freedom Caucus are typically the thorns in Johnson’s side.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Noun
Starmer, a centrist, will be in Washington on Thursday, following Monday's White House visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
—Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
Image Image Rising to national prominence in the Senate, Mr. Boren became a centrist, allying himself on many issues with President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, both Republicans.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Barnier, who has only been in power since September as the leader of a minority government backed by centrists and conservatives, attempted to pass part of the budget using a controversial constitutional mechanism that bypassed a vote in the legislature.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
The pushback from centrists is a change of pace, as hard-line conservatives and budget hawks in the House Freedom Caucus are typically the thorns in Johnson’s side.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Cite this Entry
“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrist. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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