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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rightist
Noun
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The measure also outperformed expectations in the conservative-leaning Inland Empire.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Donors poured tens of thousands of dollars into one Boise City Council race where two progressive former allies faced off against a local conservative.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The gaydar of a founding mother and a Jesuit moralist will always be far more attuned than the intuition of a mob of reactionary haters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
That could be way too reactionary and dramatic, but the vultures and sharks in this league are headed there with this situation.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Beyond the outright annihilation of people and the considerable trauma that brought onto people, leftist regimes inflicted considerable misery in myriad other ways.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Critiques from the American right, which lament the film’s timely depictions of a police state, immigrant internment camps and leftist revolt, read like ChatGPT essays programmed to write in the voice of Karen.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
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But Walpole’s excitement was curbed when they were flagged for excessive celebration.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In the Sahel, frequent droughts are exacerbating poverty and displacement, and extremist groups exploit these vulnerabilities.—
ARIF HUSAIN,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
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He was placed in removal proceedings under an executive order directing officials to expel foreigners accused of supporting extremist movements.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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From the perspective of a world of increasingly unimaginable maldistribution of resources, cascading ecological collapse, a genocide cheered on by a putatively liberal order, both are barbarisms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Rodriguez is running in the 21st Assembly District, which is also leans more liberal after the 2024 adoption of new electoral maps.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rightist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightist. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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