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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reactionary
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rightist
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, 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
Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
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, 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
Lula, on track for reelection in October polls, vowed to stem deforestation after logging soared under his rightist predecessor, who sought to curry favor with Brazil’s powerful farming firms.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightist
Noun
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Basham is a culture reporter for the conservative The Daily Wire who has been accused of promoting anti-Muslim ideas.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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But the statements have become unpopular among Japanese conservatives who say Japan should stop focusing on negative history to restore national pride.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Among the most delightful episodes of English-language biography is Boswell’s account of an improbable dinner party in the fateful year of 1776 that was attended by the hyper-radical Wilkes and the reactionary Samuel Johnson, who became and stayed friends.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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While secession sputtered, the Valley’s reactionary energy led to structural reforms at City Hall.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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The runoff election between Cepeda and De La Espriella is expected to help determine whether voters continue Petro's leftist political project or shift toward a more conservative approach to security and governance.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
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An account of enduring the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War as a child growing up in an upper-class leftist family in Tehran, Persepolis may be the most globally famous graphic narrative of the past 25 years.—
Hillary Chute,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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The federal government's warning about the dangers of excessive screen time is sending shockwaves through households and classrooms alike, drawing comparisons to public health crises of the past.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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Social media users have documented taking excessive amounts of diphenhydramine in an attempt to overcome the medication's drowsy effects and experience a euphoric feeling.—
Youri Benadjaoud,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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The extremist group got its start in the days after the deadly 2017 Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, by former members of the neo-Nazi group Vanguard America.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Khaire accused Mohamud of deploying state security forces against political opponents and alleged that troops trained and equipped by international partners to fight the al-Shabab extremist group had been used against opposition figures.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Both accused each other of being secretly liberal or not MAGA enough.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
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The Supreme Court allowed the firing to go through on a temporary basis, over staunch dissents from the court's three liberal justices.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rightist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightist. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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