as in moderates
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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Recent Examples of centrists
House Democrats are facing an internal split, with centrists who are circulating an alternative plan while remaining noncommittal or opposed to their leaders’ war powers measure.
—
Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
But wait, here come the centrists to solve the riddle!
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
By running as middle-of-the-road centrists.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Many Senate Democrats, including centrists who voted to reopen the government in November 2025, have come out against the DHS funding bill.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
During recent 11th-hour scrambles on the House floor, GOP leaders have had to assuage the concerns of protesting lawmakers, both centrists and hardliners, in order to move bills.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Several centrists left for their two-week break seething after GOP leadership blocked their efforts to bring to the floor a vote on an Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy extension.
—Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2026
Most of the Republicans vocalizing their disagreements are retiring, represent competitive districts or are perennial centrists.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 9 Dec. 2025
Which is why the Musk thesis feels seductive to parts of the right and to tech centrists.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
But wait, here come the centrists to solve the riddle!
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
By running as middle-of-the-road centrists.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Many Senate Democrats, including centrists who voted to reopen the government in November 2025, have come out against the DHS funding bill.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
During recent 11th-hour scrambles on the House floor, GOP leaders have had to assuage the concerns of protesting lawmakers, both centrists and hardliners, in order to move bills.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Several centrists left for their two-week break seething after GOP leadership blocked their efforts to bring to the floor a vote on an Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy extension.
—Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2026
Most of the Republicans vocalizing their disagreements are retiring, represent competitive districts or are perennial centrists.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 9 Dec. 2025
Which is why the Musk thesis feels seductive to parts of the right and to tech centrists.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrists
moderates
Noun
-
Political post-mortem after post-mortem has deepened a cold war between progressives and moderates, fueling ongoing debates over President Joe Biden’s handling of the Gaza war, inflation, and the cost of living.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Trump had suggested Iranians would overthrow their government, but lately hinted that regime moderates could take over.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Centrists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrists. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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