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
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Monday struck down one of those holds. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Publicly available information points to conservative political and media interests, not funding by pro-Israel organizations. — Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
Republican response But conservatives said those policies inflated enrollment by attracting fraudulent and wasteful coverage. — Christine Mai-Duc, NPR, 23 Aug. 2026 Some conservatives don’t view Vance’s comments as outside the GOP norm. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 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
  • YouTube has been keen to talk up its partnership with the BBC and other British networks during its time in Edinburgh this week, and positioned itself as friend, not foe to the traditional sector.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps Parton’s most countercultural act was her decision to work and not have children at a time when Reagan’s push for traditional family values took hold of the country.
    — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • Overnight, the British market's reaction to Keir Starmer's resignation remained relatively muted.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Featuring warm neutrals, earthy tones, muted pinks, clay hues, and airy blues, the palette includes shades inspired by nature—from sandy beaches to golden autumn leaves.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of muted
Adjective
  • Florida’s Republican gubernatorial ticket is defying historic trends for a political party traditionally known for elevating white men to leadership positions — even as the GOP remains cautious about drawing attention to the shift.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Bindi, a young female wallaby, is inquisitive and extremely curious, while Wally, a young male wallaby, is more cautious and likes to look at things from afar, Borozenets said.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cautious
Noun
  • 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
  • Like other hard-right populist parties across the globe, Reform’s brand is very much tied up in traditionalist masculinity.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of traditionalist
Adjective
  • King’s indifference to orthodox formats enables formal mischief.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • For a period, Pakistan deployed a 7-2 offside field against Cox to try and build some pressure, with a struggling Khurram Shahzad lacking the accuracy and rhythm to trouble him in more orthodox ways.
    — Ben Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • Industry sources said Pemsel’s exit has been planned for some time, and that the BFC has already been running a quiet, monthslong search for his successor.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 The private thought looping in the background may need a quiet place to land.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Apply the serum directly to sparse areas of your brows, being careful to avoid letting the product touch other areas of your skin.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • According to the researchers, careful process design and optimization as well as architecture simplification could help in solving most of these issues, something that industrial production focuses on much more than academic researchers.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 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 31 Aug. 2026.

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