Definition of conservatismnext
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

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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 Barbara Miner has a deep appreciation for Milwaukee’s creativity, but she’s grown tired of its cultural conservatism. Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026 The ’26 outlook is tricky given historical conservatism; but investors expect initial guide below St. Michael Bloom, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026 Ben, what initially attracted you to conservatism? David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026 This is of course the whole point of conservatism, to go slowly, tread softly, because everything has unintended consequences. Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conservatism

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“Conservatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservatism. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

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