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 In Tehran’s sprawling Grand Bazaar, long a center of conservatism in Iranian politics and still an economic force within the country, there was a heavy police presence and some expressed frustration at the value of Iran’s currency, the rial. Rob Wile, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026 The incarnation of transactional conservatism, Bhumjaithai now controls every major mechanism of the state. Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026 While each of these projects is promising, there’s still a deep design conservatism to each of them. Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 Conservatives in DellaPosta’s study were more likely to endorse spanking kids, for instance, which aligns with conservatism’s more traditionalist worldview. Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 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 23 Sep. 2026.

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