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
But the Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini notes that the socialist uprising isn’t just at the expense of centrists or the establishment.
—
W. James Antle Iii,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2026
Could a party with a tent big enough to include both progressives such as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal and national-security centrists such as Senators Chris Coons and Mark Kelly converge around a vision that can connect with Americans seized by anger and mistrust?
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Johnson has struggled to get the Republican Party aligned as lawmakers on the right have said the measure doesn't go far enough and some centrists with tough elections ahead in November express concerns about immigration enforcement practices.
—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Year after year, the election map has changed, but liberal centrists have usually remained on top.
—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Congressional Progressive Caucus members have teed up a series of war powers measures to force even more votes in the coming weeks, and centrists have pushed another resolution to rein in the war that would also give the president a window to withdraw troops from hostilities.
—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
The convergence of Abundance centrists and conservative environmentalists would seem to belie the ACC’s assertion that the environmental movement is dominated by radicals who would rather sabotage the American economy than accept any of the compromises necessary to achieve a prosperous future.
—
Gaby Del Valle,
Harpers Magazine,
24 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
W. James Antle Iii,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2026
Could a party with a tent big enough to include both progressives such as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal and national-security centrists such as Senators Chris Coons and Mark Kelly converge around a vision that can connect with Americans seized by anger and mistrust?
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Johnson has struggled to get the Republican Party aligned as lawmakers on the right have said the measure doesn't go far enough and some centrists with tough elections ahead in November express concerns about immigration enforcement practices.
—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Year after year, the election map has changed, but liberal centrists have usually remained on top.
—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Congressional Progressive Caucus members have teed up a series of war powers measures to force even more votes in the coming weeks, and centrists have pushed another resolution to rein in the war that would also give the president a window to withdraw troops from hostilities.
—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
The convergence of Abundance centrists and conservative environmentalists would seem to belie the ACC’s assertion that the environmental movement is dominated by radicals who would rather sabotage the American economy than accept any of the compromises necessary to achieve a prosperous future.
—
Gaby Del Valle,
Harpers Magazine,
24 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrists
moderates
Noun
-
Until inflation moderates, the Fed is unlikely to lower interest rates.
-
Among Democrats, the primaries will hinge on longstanding divides between progressives and moderates as the party tries to chart the best path forward to November.
Cite this Entry
“Centrists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrists. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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