conservative 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈsər-və-tiv How to pronounce conservative (audio)
Definition of conservativenext
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

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2
as in muted
not excessively showy dressing in conservative outfits so as to make a good impression at job interviews

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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

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conservative

2 of 2

noun

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

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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
Adjective
That means of course that range would hover at a conservative 200 miles at most. — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 July 24-30, 2026 Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president, a victory that confirmed a regional shift in South America toward the conservative wing. — ABC News, 31 July 2026
Noun
Linnemann, a conservative who lacks government experience, will take her place at the Health Ministry. — ABC News, 24 July 2026 Givens will play Senator Mulrooney, an intellectual conservative, overbearing both as a parent and a partner. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for conservative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conservative
  1. traditional
  2. muted
  3. cautious
  4. traditionalist
  5. orthodox
  6. quiet
  7. careful
  8. rightist
Adjective
  • Those include boys cross country, wrestling (duals or traditional), tennis and golf and girls cross country, cheerleading (competition or gameday), flag football, tennis and golf.
    — Chip Saye, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • In 2012, China occupied Scarborough Shoal, a traditional Filipino fishing ground inside the Philippines’ EEZ, endangering the lives of Philippine personnel and fishermen in the process.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • Starbucks isn’t immune to those concerns, which is reflected in the stock’s more muted performance in recent months.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • Those who adore Kurosawa’s unsettling earlier films may be thrown off by his new movie’s relatively muted approach.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of muted
Adjective
  • Partners and distributors are being more cautious because Anta prefers a direct-to-consumer model, Hoeld said.
    — Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • While inflation remains volatile across countries, influencing cautious planning, salary increases are relatively high compared to pre-pandemic norms.
    — John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of cautious
Noun
  • For traditionalists, there’s plenty to choose from, but the specials are surely worth the detour.
    — Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • After that dispiriting loss in Bosnia, traditionalists opened up to the radical, counter-cultural Guardiola option.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of traditionalist
Adjective
  • Tens of thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews, sometimes called Haredi, have refused conscription into the Israeli militia on religious grounds.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • The 28-year-old struggled in Amorim’s 4-3-2-1 system, but Carrick has largely used a more orthodox 4-2-3-1 shape since taking over, making room for Rashford on the left side of the forward line.
    — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • My favorite way to spend an afternoon, though, was borrowing one of the hotel's bicycles and pedaling around South of Fifth, where quiet residential streets quickly give way to cafés, the marina, and the fun buzz of Ocean Drive.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • For gardens, Shosei-en is a quiet surprise so close to Kyoto Station that most visitors walk right past it, a strolling garden of ponds, bridges, and teahouses that makes a perfect first or last stop in the city.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • However, Aldighieri advises marketers to be careful when changing tack.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • But Yoon is careful, with his characteristically spare, visceral imagery, to establish Etna’s early happiness.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of careful
Noun
  • That is, rightists who oppose aid to Ukraine tend to be skeptical of Israel and at least open to having anti-Semites in the Republican coalition.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Earlier this month, Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced the rightist Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following his 2023 election loss.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Definition of rightist

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conservative
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Cite this Entry

“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservative. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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