Synonyms of traditionalist

traditionalist

noun

as in conservative

a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are

a traditionalist who doesn't believe in expanding government

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conservative
• rightist
• reactionary
• archconservative
• Tory
• right-winger
• paleoconservative
• right-wing
• conformist
• neoconservative
• neocon
• right
• diehard
• bourbon
• fuddy-duddy
• standpatter
• Colonel Blimp
• square
• stuffed shirt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberal
• leftist
• lefty
• red
• extremist
• revolutionary
• progressive
• revolutionist
• left-winger
• reformist
• reformer
• radical

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of traditionalist

El-Sayed is promising wholesale change to politics, a progressive upheaval of traditionalist incrementalism, an outsiders’ indifference to tradition. — Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Aug. 2026

For traditionalists, there’s plenty to choose from, but the specials are surely worth the detour. — Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

After that dispiriting loss in Bosnia, traditionalists opened up to the radical, counter-cultural Guardiola option. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Judy Davis stars as Sybylla, a rebellious young woman in 19th century Australia who longs to be a writer, but her traditionalist parents refuse to indulge those dreams, sending her to board with her wealthy grandmother instead. — ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026

The traditionalist Catholic group whose bishops and priests were excommunicated last week for defying Pope Leo XIV has ties to the Kansas City area. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Your grandfather was a traditionalist, the farmer told me, in cadenced, emphatic Italian. — Angelica Calabrese, Longreads, 7 July 2026

In Billings, Montana, Rand's Custom Hats has spent more than five decades handcrafting custom hats, building a reputation among rodeo athletes and local traditionalists, with each piece made largely by one hatter from start to finish. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026

Still, many traditionalists don’t believe robotic elephants belong in temples. — ABC News, 3 July 2026