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
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
On Wednesday, a group of House GOP centrists who bucked their leadership by signing onto a Democratic effort to force a vote on extending the subsidies also met with a group of senators to try to chart a path to a deal that could pass in both chambers.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 21 Dec. 2025
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
Unless there’s a last-minute breakthrough by centrists in both parties who have tried for agreement, that option may get some Republican support, but almost surely not enough to get to Trump’s desk.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025
Affordability emerged as the common theme of Democrats’ sweep of the November off-year elections, with progressive Zohran Mamdani of New York and centrists Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia emphasizing its importance.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
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
On Wednesday, a group of House GOP centrists who bucked their leadership by signing onto a Democratic effort to force a vote on extending the subsidies also met with a group of senators to try to chart a path to a deal that could pass in both chambers.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 21 Dec. 2025
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
Unless there’s a last-minute breakthrough by centrists in both parties who have tried for agreement, that option may get some Republican support, but almost surely not enough to get to Trump’s desk.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025
Affordability emerged as the common theme of Democrats’ sweep of the November off-year elections, with progressive Zohran Mamdani of New York and centrists Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia emphasizing its importance.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrists
moderates
Noun
-
Democrats will be slicing up the votes among liberals and moderates as the candidates position themselves to appeal to the largest swath of primary voters.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Those who are more hardline, such as Machado, believe in more aggressive political action – such as mass mobilization and protests – and have less faith in elections, while moderates like González lean toward taking advantage of any political openings that exist, including elections.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Centrists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrists. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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