LEFTIST Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

leftist 1 of 2

adjective

as in liberal

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leftist

2 of 2

noun

as in pinko

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Dissimilar Words

capitalist

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 leftist

Adjective

Because Sand has not served in a legislative capacity, he isn’t burdened by a controversial voting record on leftist policies, as is Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, who is also trying to flip a red state seat. — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 Festivals aren’t rewarding leftist politics so much as wrapping gore in political language. — Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 To English leftist folkies, lately stirred by Bertrand Russell and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the lyric, coming from Dylan, would cut through the anti-Americanism not uncommon in their midst. — Sean Wilentz, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026 After her leftist boyfriend moved away to pursue union organizing, Livia suffered a series of tragedies that led her to drop out of college and return to her hometown. — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 Election runoff in Brazil Senator Flavio Bolsonaro rose to a surprise lead over leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, setting the nation up for a sharp shift to the right. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026 In a tight race on Sunday, Bolsonaro garnered 47% of the vote to the populist leftist president’s 45%. — Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Its leftist viewpoint was, unsurprisingly, anathema to those on the right. — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026 The leftist Roberto Sánchez unexpectedly surged in the first round of presidential elections but ultimately lost narrowly in the runoff to the right-wing candidate, Keiko Fujimori. — Dan Restrepo, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Noun

Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 In fact, he’s decided to go all the way from an angry leftist to a very angry rightist. — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 The deepening rift comes as da Silva, a leftist, runs for a fourth term. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026 Tuesday night was a very good night to be a leftist in New York City. — Philip Elliott, Time, 24 June 2026 Raman is more likely than Bass to pick up the voters who chose community organizer Rae Huang, a leftist who, like Raman, is a DSA member. — Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 In New York, an inspiring young leftist competed against a boorish, but experienced, former governor to replace a corrupt mayor. — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026 The president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is a leftist with a PhD in engineering who prides herself on her scientific background. — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026 The last pope, Francis, could be filed away by American conservatives as an anti-American Latin American leftist, but Leo can’t. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leftist

Adjective

Because the right is viewed as divisive by liberal corporations, and the left is viewed as empathetic common sense.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
This process is evident in Egypt and Turkey, where declining mosque attendance has accompanied the growing appeal of liberal values, particularly secularism.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of liberal

Noun

The Rays’ only decision could be whether to start Jax or Seymour, the lone lefty in the group, in Game 4.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
Seeking a spark Wednesday for a struggling lineup, manager Aaron Boone started the righty-swinging Volpe at second base over the lefty-hitting Chisholm, even with right-hander Nick Martinez pitching for the Rays.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of lefty

Adjective

Israel launched the war in response to an October 2023 invasion by Hamas which blindsided Netanyahu’s religious-rightist government.

— Dan Williams, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
As rightist parties surge across the UK, Labour members are betting on Burnham — who easily won a parliamentary seat last week — to salvage their moribund agenda.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 June 2026

Definition of rightist

Noun

The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists, and the Republic of China remains the island’s formal name.

— Reuters, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2026
The communists, even with their party leaders imprisoned or in hiding, retained 81 out of 100 seats.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of communist

Adjective

While this may all sound a bit reactionary or like shooting fish in a barrel, Mungiu wisely complicates matters.

— Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Once upon a time, the idea that the world was growing stupider was mostly confined to the realm of dyspeptic reactionary polemic.

— James Marriott, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of reactionary

Noun

And fellow democratic socialist Ysabel Jurado took out De León in 2024.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
In 2026, for instance, upset victories by Democratic Socialist candidates in New York, with an 11% turnout, and Colorado, with a 34% turnout, led to a spate of news stories about the success of socialists.

— Robert Boatright, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of socialist

Adjective

The idea that criminals could serve sentences behind bars was a more progressive approach to justice in comparison.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Vang, 41, is one of several younger and progressive challengers seeking to oust longtime incumbents across the country.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of progressive

Noun

This included a soft pink, nearly neutral shade of lipstick with a tint similar to hues found throughout her dress.

— Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2026
After spending much of the year in bright tomato reds and pretty, polished pinks, the actor and singer has gone several shades deeper for fall, courtesy of longtime nail artist Tom Bachik.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of pink

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“Leftist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leftist. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of leftist

adjective

noun

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