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
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
Both present themselves as kitchen-table centrists with extensive military and national security experience.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
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
Both present themselves as kitchen-table centrists with extensive military and national security experience.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrists
moderates
Noun
-
As speaker, Menin will face pressure, especially from moderates and conservatives, to act as a check on Mamdani.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Ironically, Phelps and NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell were both revealed as moderates who tried to get NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France to agree to help the teams with their requests, but were ultimately shot down.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Centrists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrists. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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