rightward

adjective or adverb

right·​ward ˈrīt-wərd How to pronounce rightward (audio)
: being at, toward, or to the right

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In the case of Diaz-Balart and Salazar, Foreman said the rightward turn of their Miami-Dade County bases shown in last month’s elections could have influenced their thinking. Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 8 Dec. 2022 The nation’s rightward turn, which Ronald Reagan cemented with his presidential election two years later in 1980, was on the way. Julian Zelizer, CNN, 20 Oct. 2022 The GOP did see some notable successes, including rightward shifts in Florida and New York, and uncertainty remains over the congressional majorities. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2022 The secretary of state and the Israeli leader had a ‘candid’ conversation amid deepening rifts over the Palestinians, Ukraine and a rightward shift by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Michael Crowley, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2023 But the rightward shift among Latino voters and others complicates the analysis of the relationship between Christian nationalism and ethnicity. Katherine Stewart, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2023 Among those opposing McCarthy was U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of southern Illinois, furthering her far-rightward move in the ranks of Congress. Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2023 The new government is set to be the most right wing in Israel’s history, according to political analysts, and caps a decadeslong rightward shift among the electorate. Dov Lieber, WSJ, 29 Dec. 2022 That means resisting the rightward pull from the most conservative activists in the GOP. Dallas News, 19 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rightward.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1733, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rightward was in 1733

Dictionary Entries Near rightward

Cite this Entry

“Rightward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rightward. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

rightward

adjective or adverb
right·​ward ˈrīt-wərd How to pronounce rightward (audio)
: toward, at, or to the right

More from Merriam-Webster on rightward

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Which Came First?

  • baby chick with a brown egg
  • hot take or cold shoulder?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY