as in follower
often disapproving
a person who behaves in a way that is considered acceptable by most people and who avoids doing things that could be considered different or unusual
They went from being angry punk rockers to bland conformists. They like to travel, but they're conformists who go to only the most popular destinations.
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as in obedient
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conformist
Noah Rothman, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024
Instead, many of them seem to be passive or active conformists, seizing upon the opportunities that the still-present market economy or big enterprises provide for young careerists.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
To me, an American woman in the early 21st century, prickly and free-spirited Lady Murasaki now appears to have been chafing under conformist pressures in the Heian court.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conformist
Noun
With your support, NR will continue to buck conformist pressure.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024
Instead, many of them seem to be passive or active conformists, seizing upon the opportunities that the still-present market economy or big enterprises provide for young careerists.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Saft comes from Levittown, Long Island, the prototype for conformist, white-picketed American suburbia.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
To me, an American woman in the early 21st century, prickly and free-spirited Lady Murasaki now appears to have been chafing under conformist pressures in the Heian court.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conformist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conformist
Noun
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Japanese followers were expected to contribute more than others.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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In an Instagram story on Monday, Katy Perry asked her followers to call their senators to ask them to block the appropriations bill that includes funding for DHS.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The generals reduced even their limited need for an obedient prime minister.—
Mohammed Hanif,
Time,
1 Dec. 2025
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Since Francoism promoted an image of women as obedient wives and self-sacrificing mothers devoted to the Catholic family model, Republican women were demonized as immoral, dangerous and unworthy of motherhood.—
Zaya Rustamova,
The Conversation,
19 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In telling after telling, Dorothy is presented as the docile marionette of whatever man’s pulling her strings at the moment.—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Casually dressed couples explore the labyrinthine citrus groves, but the rhythm here seems deliciously docile—guests go from hammam to Aperol, afternoon snooze to dinner.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There can never again be a DED, even if Sherrill promises that Roehrenbeck will be subordinate to Garcia.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
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The inspector general's investigation found that Reece and Ruff — who were supervisor and subordinate — did not disclose their romantic relationship, which is a violation of a city executive order.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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OpenAI has simultaneously launched OpenAI for Healthcare, a HIPAA-compliant enterprise suite that includes ChatGPT for Healthcare and is already being adopted at major health systems such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCSF Health and others.—
Sahar Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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About 94% of the population, or the passengers that transit through a TSA checkpoint today, have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or an acceptable form of ID, like a passport.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Advertisement Rodríguez was not immediately pliant.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
5 Jan. 2026
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Its root system is aggressive, shallow, and rather pliant, which makes the tree very unstable.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Is this suit more conformable than the costume from Revenge of the Sith?—
Ryan Parker,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 June 2022
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Parker details that after a few meetings and sample swapping with the agency, Macy’s picked up her collection and the pair have dedicated its mission to approach size inclusive fashion in a fun yet conformable way.—
Nandi Howard,
Essence,
18 May 2021
Adjective
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In the dark romantic comedy-drama, True Blood alum Skarsgård, 49, plays tough biker Ray, who enters into a dominant-submissive relationship with Colin (Melling), a shy and directionless man who sings in a barbershop quartet.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Usually, guys with power like to be submissive and are bottoms.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conformist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conformist. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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