LEFTIST Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

leftist 1 of 2

adjective

as in liberal

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Dissimilar Words

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

Closer to home, Spain’s right wing figures targeted Sánchez’s leftist, pro-migrant government when discussing the matter. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 31 July 2026 Ahead of November’s midterm elections, Democrats are in the midst of a series of heated primaries across the country, pitting more centrist candidates, often backed by the Party establishment, against leftist opponents. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 These rifts were mirrored at the École, where students argued about politics and split into groups according to their leftist persuasions. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 And fortuitously, Napalm Death, who played a 19-minute set, espouse the same lefty politics as NPR, in fact maybe even a little more leftist, all things considered, since Barney Greenway wore a Crass T-shirt to the gig. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026 Despite the historical precedents, some prominent Democrats are cautious about leftist victories. — Kirk McClure, Fortune, 14 July 2026 The group, which endorsed Jackson last week, is hosting a virtual rally headlining Jackson alongside the leftist Senate candidate in Michigan, Abdul el Sayed, on Monday night. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026 El-Sayed has a penchant for creating buzzy social media videos, which have drawn comparisons with those of New York Mayor and fellow leftist Zohran Mamdani. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 10 July 2026 The leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker challenged McConnell to publicly deny that the two are engaged in a romantic tryst. — Marie-Rose Sheinerman, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026

Noun

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 Melton’s Austin starts as a baby leftist crying over a dead bee, then becomes torn between the authentic Korean cultural education Chairwoman Park claims to offer him and the increasingly ambitious Ashley, who wants to leverage Austin’s heritage for her own personal gain. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 In nearby Venezuela, the rise of President Hugo Chávez, a leftist, in 1999 meant oil and aid began flowing again. — Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026 Fearing a tougher-than-expected race for one of Texas’s two Senate seats, Republicans are trying to cast Democratic candidate James Talarico as a radical leftist out of step with voters. — Teo Armus, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leftist

Adjective

But even as Vancouver has begun the painful process of revising its harm-reduction policies, the city still exerts a powerful hold on the imagination of liberal leaders in the United States.

— Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
The former lieutenant governor made the announcement in a video posted on his Facebook page as democratic socialist Francesca Hong has garnered strong support from the liberal wing of the party.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of liberal

Noun

And Detmers is a lefty, if having another one of those join Chris Sale in the rotation matters to you.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 31 July 2026
There was no shortage of risk in starting Ray with the deadline within arm’s reach, but the lefty provided one final showcase to the rest of the league by pitching six innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 July 2026

Definition of lefty

Noun

His last film, a three-hour biopic about a communist-sympathizing physicist losing his security clearance, made nearly $1 billion.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026
The shift has become a lightning rod for Republicans, who are aggressively branding Democrats as communists.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Definition of communist

Adjective

The writer and former white supremacist Richard Hanania was once the toast of MAGA-curious tech barons and reactionary intellectuals.

— Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
This included one of their players poking a finger into the ear of the Belgian penalty-spot protector Diego Moreira, and responding to the reactionary elbow to the tummy by going down, and staying down, on top of the penalty mark.

— Geir Jordet, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of reactionary

Noun

Yet despite the faction’s inability to win in purple or red districts, democratic socialists enjoy a net favorability of 17 points among Democratic voters nationwide, compared with just 4 points for Democratic members of Congress.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was quick to congratulate the democratic socialists who defeated incumbent members of his caucus in primaries, even though their policies are much further left than his own.

— Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2026

Definition of socialist

Adjective

The argument’s been just as lopsided in Michigan, where progressive candidates were first out with plans to limit data centers.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 31 July 2026
Ideally, this new midfielder would be a progressive passer — something Everton also see in Hackney — who helps in possession, but can also distribute in a more direct manner at times.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of progressive

Noun

With summer comes the typical explosion of blooms and colors in the garden, from bright pinks and poppy reds to delicate purples and electric blues.

— Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026
Teal is coming out on top, with its mesmerizing mix of sea-blue and green undertones, as well as flamingo pinks flecked with iridescent shimmer particles.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 18 July 2026

Definition of pink

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“Leftist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leftist. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of leftist

adjective

noun

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