1
as in traditional
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions
conservative baseball fans consider the new ballpark too modern-looking and plain ugly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in muted
not excessively showy
dressing in conservative outfits so as to make a good impression at job interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble
made conservative investments, and so he wasn't ruined when the market went into a free fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in Tory
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are
proposed legislation that was opposed by conservatives throughout the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 conservative
Peter Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
His uncompromising vision for America was once considered marginal, the conservative writer Karen Swallow Prior told me.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Nik Popli, Time, 12 May 2026
The series written by Tolkien, a devout Catholic, became a popular franchise with conservatives.
—Alexander Hall, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservative
Adjective
The Rededicate 250 event is occurring in tandem with other White House initiatives appealing to Trump’s loyal base of conservative Christians, particularly white evangelical Protestants.
—Peter Smith, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
His uncompromising vision for America was once considered marginal, the conservative writer Karen Swallow Prior told me.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Noun
As the political pressure intensifies, even some conservatives who once dismissed the idea outright are softening their opposition.
—Nik Popli, Time, 12 May 2026
The series written by Tolkien, a devout Catholic, became a popular franchise with conservatives.
—Alexander Hall, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conservative
Adjective
-
Bedside lanterns, traditional tea pots above the minibar, and authentic decorative pottery fill the room.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
But Hadler does not believe that fibromyalgia should be classified as a disease in the traditional biomedical sense, because medicine has yet to identify a discrete, demonstrable pathophysiological process underlying it.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
That goes for much here, from the light that scurries away from Benjamín Echazarreta’s muted camera, to the moments of sweetness that punctuate Mariá Portugal’s largely ominous score.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
Moreover, the brand’s growth in Europe, Middle East and Africa was impacted by muted consumer sentiment in Europe due to both higher energy costs and inflation and because the conflict impacted the brand’s ability to ship into the Middle East.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a groove Phil Maton is cautious to ever declare that his delivery has fully come together.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Beneath the measured pace of transactions — collectors more cautious, galleries recalibrating, auction houses tempering expectations — the intellectual and aesthetic stakes of contemporary art feel newly urgent.—
Andrew S. Jacobson,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The documentary traces Hier’s path from an orthodox Jewish enclave to international prominence as the founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In the nineteen-seventies, Franciscan University, a small school on a hill above the downtown, became a center for charismatic Catholicism, an expressive, theologically orthodox movement that paralleled the development of the evangelical Jesus People and secular hippie culture.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Yankees, who have scored eight runs over their losing streak, were otherwise quiet against Brandon Young and Baltimore’s bullpen, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranding five runners.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
-
Treatment rooms are tucked into a quiet section of the hotel, and the menu covers the usual range—massages, facials, and body treatments aimed largely at travelers recovering from long flights or long days of sightseeing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The tunnel was built after careful planning and executed with tremendous effort.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The crisis tests Pope Leo XIV’s pledge to heal divisions with traditionalists, coming after Pope Francis’ 2021 crackdown on the Latin Mass sparked deep anger among church conservatives.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Leo, by contrast, has been making efforts to engage with conservative and traditionalist Catholics for much of his first year as Pope.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Puerto Rican rum production emphasizes column distillation and filtration, yielding a cleaner, lighter, and more restrained profile than many heavier Caribbean styles.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
It was described by critics as psychologically uneasy and emotionally claustrophobic, with Keough serving as the restrained emotional center of the film.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservative. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
