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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrists
moderates
Noun
-
And voters reinforce the cycle, rewarding the most partisan candidates and punishing moderates in primary after primary.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
Lastly, the report did absolutely nothing to soothe the battle between progressives and moderates.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Centrists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrists. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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