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 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 Even in contemporary political and intellectual discourse, there remains an attachment to a particular stupid southern conservatism, the ideocratic confederacy. Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026 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 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 14 Mar. 2026.

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