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
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Frey, a centrist Democrat first elected in 2017, led Fateh by about 10 percentage points after the first round of tabulations Tuesday night but fell just short of the 50%-plus-one threshold needed to win outright.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Amsterdam Reuters — Dutch centrist party D66 won the most votes in Wednesday’s general election, news agency ANP said on Friday, putting its 38-year-old leader Rob Jetten on course to become the youngest-ever prime minister in the Netherlands.
—CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Adjective
New governors-elect Sherrill and Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger did as well, proving that moderate candidates can succeed with a centrist message, but Mamdani likely will retain the spotlight given New York’s place as the center of the media universe.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Frey, a centrist Democrat first elected in 2017, led Fateh by about 10 percentage points after the first round of tabulations Tuesday night but fell just short of the 50%-plus-one threshold needed to win outright.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Those centrists dominated a Monday night meeting where nearly a dozen Senate Democrats huddled to discuss a path forward.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Amsterdam Reuters — Dutch centrist party D66 won the most votes in Wednesday’s general election, news agency ANP said on Friday, putting its 38-year-old leader Rob Jetten on course to become the youngest-ever prime minister in the Netherlands.
—CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for centrist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrist
Adjective
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As the Republican Party’s views have swung further right not just nationally but also locally, more moderate candidates who may have run as Republicans in Johnson County in the past are finding room under the Democratic umbrella and resonating with voters, Robinson said.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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Both include lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds, as well as moderate amounts of fish, chicken, dairy, and whole grains.—
Alexandria Nyembwe,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The west slopes of the central Appalachians could pick up several inches Monday.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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Behind him, Liverpool need to be wary of Foden, who is beginning to again look like the player who was central to City’s 2023-24 title win.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrist. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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