as in conservative
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are
rightists opposed the new social programs
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as in reactionary
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Recent Examples of rightist
semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Historians have pointed to Hodge’s early support of reactionary rightists, including industrialists, landlords, and businessmen—people who were associated with Japanese rule.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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, 22 Sep. 2025
Historians have pointed to Hodge’s early support of reactionary rightists, including industrialists, landlords, and businessmen—people who were associated with Japanese rule.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Rising worries over crime are upending Latin American politics, propelling rightist candidates to the top of polls across the region.
—semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightist
Noun
-
The president has lashed out at the justices who ruled against him in recent days, including three conservatives who were in the majority — Roberts, Gorsuch and Barrett.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Of the current six conservatives on the bench, Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett have developed something of a swing vote status.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But now, having spread, the new reactionary thought seems to have lost some of its momentum.—
James Duesterberg,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Dreher is well aware that this reactionary outlook strikes many people as ludicrous.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The arrangement became one of the pillars of the regional leftist alliance that defined Latin American politics for a generation.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Those leftist militants from Christensen’s pet project assassinate Beale during his broadcast.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The city is already in trouble because of excessive debt.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
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Austin police officers will soon be able to fine motorists up to $500 for excessive engine noise following a unanimous Austin City Council vote Thursday.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The suspect is allegedly associated with nihilistic violent extremist ideology.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Connecticut officials are sounding the alarm about violent online extremist groups that are targeting children and vulnerable individuals.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Not present were Gorsuch, Alito, Thomas and the court’s two other liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The flagship has also dodged some of the scandals other universities have faced when firing professors because of their liberal speech.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rightist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightist. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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