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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in middle-of-the-roader
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of centrist
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
But that money largely helped progressives, allowing for social justice activist Analilia Mejia to win the primary over Malinowski, which infuriated centrist Democrats.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The centrist Bean is incorrectly portrayed in its ads as a progressive architect of Obamacare.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Adjective
Mahan, who’s pitching himself in the gubernatorial race as a centrist Democrat and favorite of Silicon Valley, is also on board with restrictions — at least in some form.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
But that money largely helped progressives, allowing for social justice activist Analilia Mejia to win the primary over Malinowski, which infuriated centrist Democrats.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
The race pits a centrist sitting governor, Janet Mills, against a progressive firebrand, Graham Platner, an oyster farmer, military veteran and former private military contractor who has built momentum in recent months.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The centrist Bean is incorrectly portrayed in its ads as a progressive architect of Obamacare.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrist
Adjective
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Mahan, who is less well known, is seen as a moderate and has been a frequent critic of Newsom's tenure.—
Joseph Ax,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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Under the measure, any residential development must include 15% moderate income housing units.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Now the war has turned into a race to stabilize the rapidly deteriorating global economic order, central to which is reopening the Strait of Hormuz.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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The neighborhood/area The hotel is in the most central spot within Copenhagen’s old town.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrist. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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