neocon

noun

neo·​con ˈnē-ō-ˌkän How to pronounce neocon (audio)

Examples of neocon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The neocons and the MAGA faction are dire enemies, with each viewing the other as a traducer of noble Republican traditions. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 A number of neocons such as William Kristol or Liz Cheney have now become the most vigorous and effective opponents of Trump and his America First credo. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 In February, a video teaser for Haley’s campaign had opened with a grainy clip of Jeane Kirkpatrick—the Democrat turned neocon foreign-policy adviser to Ronald Reagan—addressing the 1984 Republican National Convention. Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2023 Nationalists and populists have blackened the neocons’ name. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Aug. 2023 Just as the neocons once saw every confrontation with a dictator through the prism of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of the Nazis in Munich in 1938, Boot now views every attempt to advance American ideals globally through the prism of the mistake in Iraq. Thomas Carothers, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2023 The fact that Bolton—an Iraq War architect, radical nationalist and neocon, and former Trump staffer—is calling out Republican 2024 candidates for their meekness speaks volumes. Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani, The New Republic, 28 June 2023 This doesn’t have to be the case: Just as liberals who have been mugged can choose not to become neocons, women have political choices to make, too. Laura Kipnis, The New Republic, 5 May 2023 Twelve years later, Bush’s son followed the neocons’ bidding. Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 17 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neocon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

by shortening

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neocon was in 1979

Dictionary Entries Near neocon

Cite this Entry

“Neocon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neocon. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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