as in conservativeness
attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions
the state's well-known conservatism means that progressive legislation always has an uphill battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conservatism
Bring back real conservatism like limited government, fiscal responsibility, rule of law and constitutional originalism, and judicial independence.
—
Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
At a forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church, both candidates struck a balance between fiscal conservatism while preparing the county, which is home to some of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, for more development.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Too many in the media see conservatism as a dirty word.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
With its around 1,950 members, the NYYRC is proof that conservatism is back in a big way in the US, and that its young champions can be urban-dwelling, chic, even brazen individuals.
—Olivia Empson, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservatism
Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
At a forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church, both candidates struck a balance between fiscal conservatism while preparing the county, which is home to some of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, for more development.
—Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Too many in the media see conservatism as a dirty word.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
With its around 1,950 members, the NYYRC is proof that conservatism is back in a big way in the US, and that its young champions can be urban-dwelling, chic, even brazen individuals.
—Olivia Empson, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservatism
Cite this Entry
“Conservatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservatism. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
