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
At the same time, the state assemblyman’s calls to raise taxes on wealthy people and intense criticisms of the Israel’s military actions in Gaza have unnerved some centrists and conservatives, as well as many Jewish New Yorkers.
—
Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
The gambit backfired as voters looked to the extremes of the left and right for leadership, depriving Macron's governing centrists of a majority.
—John Toher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Loyalists have defected, and centrists have veered right.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
As of now, this hasn’t occurred, with the anti-Milei centrists representing a minority position ahead of the election.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Beshear and Shapiro are considered centrists, mostly due to their states’ political makeup.
—Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
But many voters in this heartland state remain pragmatic centrists, reflecting their Midwestern sensibilities.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
More left-wing Democrats have said their party did not go far enough in their direction to excite the party’s base, while centrists have said the party went too far left and scared off moderate voters.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 15 July 2025
Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
The gambit backfired as voters looked to the extremes of the left and right for leadership, depriving Macron's governing centrists of a majority.
—John Toher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Loyalists have defected, and centrists have veered right.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
As of now, this hasn’t occurred, with the anti-Milei centrists representing a minority position ahead of the election.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Beshear and Shapiro are considered centrists, mostly due to their states’ political makeup.
—Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
But many voters in this heartland state remain pragmatic centrists, reflecting their Midwestern sensibilities.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
More left-wing Democrats have said their party did not go far enough in their direction to excite the party’s base, while centrists have said the party went too far left and scared off moderate voters.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 15 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for centrists
moderates
Noun
-
Given his transgressive and reckless use of power, this argument will appeal to many moderates and independents.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Oct. 2025
-
This alienated moderates within his party but electrified disaffected voters.—
Nafees Alam,
Boston Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Centrists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrists. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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