RIGHTIST Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

rightist 1 of 2

noun

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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rightist

2 of 2

adjective

as in reactionary

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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 rightist

Noun

In fact, he’s decided to go all the way from an angry leftist to a very angry rightist. — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 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 While America First drew supporters from across the political spectrum, it was most associated with rightists. — Justin Elliott, ProPublica, 26 Oct. 2022

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightist

Noun

Although tech giants and some unions support data center development, many people oppose it, and conservatives and progressives share that opposition.

— Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Pro-natalist conservatives have cited the decrease in women deciding to have children as a kind of modern self-absorption and evidence of the failures of feminism.

— Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of conservative

Adjective

My perspective and approach has been to try and be as measured as possible and not be as reactionary.

— Katie Abel, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Far from merely raising a reactionary fist in the air at the new science, Swift identified an attitude that is still around today — and one that has created many of the greatest challenges now facing educators.

— Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of reactionary

Adjective

It's also created an opening for a wave of leftist Democrats like Lawrence who have long argued that their outsider, anticorporate message can have broader appeal than the moderate establishment.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
The atrocities committed in Chile were similar to those in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Central America, where leftist movements and guerrillas were squashed with incredible brutality.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of leftist

Adjective

Both nominees have attempted to portray themselves as the commonsense alternative to an extremist opponent whose agenda could set the state back decades.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026
Rabin was killed [in 1995], that was a last straw —seeing an extremist right-wing lunatic in Israel kill Rabin and kill the dreams of peace.

— Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of extremist

Adjective

The channel has become a centerpiece of SiriusXM’s talk strategy, which includes conservative talk through the Patriot Channel, liberal talk through the Progress Channel.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
The liberal Yabloko party, the only registered political entity that dared to publicly criticize the war, was removed from the ballot last month by Russia’s Supreme Court, and only had a few dozen candidates in the single-seat races.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of liberal

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“Rightist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightist. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of rightist

noun

adjective

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