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
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Recent Examples of conservative
Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The president’s elder son was a longtime conservative pundit.
—Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The commentator George Weigel wrote a short book outlining the qualities conservatives wanted in the next Pope, and, in 2020, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, arranged for copies to be sent to all the cardinals who were expected to vote in the next conclave.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservative
Adjective
The offensive plan has been pretty conservative and vanilla often during the regular season.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The president’s elder son was a longtime conservative pundit.
—Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
LaMalfa described as a ‘no-nonsense conservative’ As chairman of the Western Congressional Caucus, LaMalfa advocated for wildfire victims as major blazes became a regular occurrence in his district, which encompassed much of the north state up to the Oregon border.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The commentator George Weigel wrote a short book outlining the qualities conservatives wanted in the next Pope, and, in 2020, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, arranged for copies to be sent to all the cardinals who were expected to vote in the next conclave.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conservative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conservative
Adjective
-
The Broncos are not a Super Bowl team in the traditional sense, not without more weapons offensively, and a special teams boost from Marvin Mims Jr.—
Troy Renck The Denver Post,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Quarter-zip sweatshirts feel sporty yet polished, offering the same comfort as traditional sweats with a more intentional silhouette.—
Gabrielle Porcaro,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
People often make the mistake of going with a bright white paint color to balance out a room’s cool feel and muted light, but opting for a warm neutral is more effective for creating an inviting space.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Color choices mimic those of the terrain, all soft greens, light grays, and muted taupes.—
Kristine Thomason,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Be especially cautious in school zones and watch for children and the flashing lights of school buses.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Two years as a mental health patient had taught Virginia to be cautious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Leo took part in celebrations for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in the northwestern town of Iznik, alongside the spiritual leader of eastern orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
28 Nov. 2025
-
Tinubu’s two-year presidency has focused on fixing Nigeria’s ailing economy by cutting fuel subsidies, engineering a return to orthodox monetary policy at the central bank, taming inflation, and introducing a new tax regime.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
24 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The lightweight fabric is also quiet, so you won’t be awoken from crinkling material.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The family settled in a quiet residential street of older homes and multifamily buildings, some front porches festooned with pride flags still twinkling with holiday lights.—
Michael Biesecker,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
These soft and chewy treats are the result of dozens of careful recipe tests.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s also an argument — and maybe this is just one for traditionalists — that football is also supposed to be, on some level, a test of individual stamina and adaptability.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Her house has the latest records from the ‘70s, early ‘80s, and more folkloric, traditionalist facets….—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Flanagan stars as Betty, a proud but emotionally restrained mother struggling with her daughter’s return, while Crowley plays Áine’s father Seamus.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The year 2025 saw high levels of deadly violence around the world, as conflicts grew less restrained, with civilians increasingly victims of attacks by governments and non-state actors alike, according to monitoring data.—
Susannah George,
Washington Post,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservative. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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