1
as in traditional
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions
conservative baseball fans consider the new ballpark too modern-looking and plain ugly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in muted
not excessively showy
dressing in conservative outfits so as to make a good impression at job interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
made conservative investments, and so he wasn't ruined when the market went into a free fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in Tory
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are
proposed legislation that was opposed by conservatives throughout the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conservative
Frank Holland, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
For safety, the estimates must be highly conservative and assume that the weather is always very warm for the respective season.
—IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2025
Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Greg Gutfeld of Fox News has managed to fill a void for conservatives looking for late-night television that caters to their politics and has the Fox brand at his disposal to do so.
—Andrea Ruth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conservative
Adjective
Worldwide Exchange Pick: Ethereum Tom Lee of Fundstrat is increasingly bullish on Ethereum, seeing a potential Federal Reserve rate cut as a tail wind and a forecast of $7,500 by year end from Standard Chartered as being conservative.
—Frank Holland, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
For safety, the estimates must be highly conservative and assume that the weather is always very warm for the respective season.
—IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
One gold and silver seller pitched conservatives before a Turning Point Action conference before the 2024 election as a way to protect their assets, tThe New York Times reported.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Greg Gutfeld of Fox News has managed to fill a void for conservatives looking for late-night television that caters to their politics and has the Fox brand at his disposal to do so.
—Andrea Ruth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conservative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conservative
Adjective
-
Everything packs down into the carrying bag, which has a separate pocket for the collapsible pole (a game changer for folks who have wrestled with traditional camping gear and stuff sacks).—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Aug. 2025
-
The concept quickly took off in media coverage as evocative shorthand for a puzzling phenomenon: by many traditional metrics, the economy of the Biden years was strong, especially by the second half of his tenure, when high rates of inflation started to slow.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Here, contemporary design prevails–muted tones, clean lines, and a focus on natural Scottish wellness.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The immediate effect of rescheduling on the nation’s criminal justice system would also likely be more muted, since federal prosecutions for simple possession have been fairly rare in recent years.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Be cautious when corresponding with unfamiliar accounts.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
People with ragweed allergies—and those with latex allergies, which can also cross-react with banana proteins—should be cautious, especially when eating ripe bananas or consuming large amounts.15 7.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Funds could support conservative seminaries like Nashotah House, a conservative seminary in the Anglican tradition, or pastors from the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, ensuring orthodox leadership for historic churches.—
The Rev. Jake Dell,
Hartford Courant,
7 July 2025
-
The religious advisory board includes Christian and Jewish members from traditions including Catholicism, evangelicalism, Greek Orthodox Christianity and orthodox Judaism.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Thessaloniki, however, pulses with spice-laden markets, waterfront cafés, and Byzantine mosaics tucked into quiet chapels.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Aston Villa have had a quiet summer, which has led to varying opinions on their floor and ceiling.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Navigating this revolution responsibly requires careful policy, support for adaptation and a focus on using technology to benefit people.—
Vaibhav Dani,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But the whisky never strays too far from its wood-spiced core, with restrained elements of aspen, pine, birch, and cedar wood.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Those gaudy, ridiculous 19th-century renovations lasted about 20 years, after which Theodore Roosevelt tore them out in favor of the restrained work of McKim, Mead & White, which laid the visual foundation for the rooms’ appearance today.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Americans have long been wary of using the military in local law enforcement, and for good reason.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservative. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share