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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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
semafor.com, 6 Feb. 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
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 claims first appeared on social media last month but have become more prominent on X and Instagram in recent days, where they’ve often been embraced by conservatives.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In recent years unhappy conservatives in eastern Oregon have spoken of splitting from their Democratic state and becoming a part of Republican Idaho.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Procter & Gamble, meanwhile, which sold some of its beauty holdings to Coty but still has mega personal care brands such as Olay, Head & Shoulders and Pantene, as well as SK-II, isn’t expected to be reactionary.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America, and this reactionary nightmare — and these invasions of American cities — will not stand.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One member of the leftist New Democrats party, Lori Idlout, also defected to the Liberals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
At lunch, Bilynskyj sat with a small group of right-wing Brazilian legislators, officials and influencers, all opponents of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s leftist government.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The author emphasizes that the library book controversy—central to the group’s identity—was excessive and poorly conceived.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Ed Masley Weather can make all the difference at an outdoor music festival, as anyone who’s shivered through a cold and rainy night to see their favorite band (or couldn’t take selfies because their smartphone powered down to save itself from the excessive heat) can tell you.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That said, there’s fundamental things about Mormonism in these extremist groups that are somewhat captivating because women in mainstream culture are seeing echoes in the tradwife movement, in the patriarchy that is integral to Mormonism.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
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Reports of extremist threats against places of worship added to the sense of unease.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Another conservative justice retiring next year could yield a 6-1 liberal supermajority, reshaping Wisconsin policy on voting rights, unions, and worker protections.—
Scott Bauer,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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Wisconsinites will vote for a new state Supreme Court justice on Tuesday in a race that could maintain or widen the court's liberal majority for years.—
Gaby Vinick,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rightist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rightist. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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