centrist 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of centristnext
as in moderate
avoiding major social change or extreme political ideas several centrist candidates were elected, apparently in a reaction against the extremists

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centrist

2 of 2

noun

ˈsen-trist How to pronounce centrist (audio)
as in reformer
a person who holds moderate views the centrists will most likely rally behind the candidate who favors reforming the government program—not abolishing it entirely

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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 centrist
Noun
The pushback from centrists is a change of pace, as hard-line conservatives and budget hawks in the House Freedom Caucus are typically the thorns in Johnson’s side. — Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Feb. 2025 Some recent polls indicate that the governing centrist and center-left parties could suffer major defeats, with the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) expected to finish first and second. — TIME, 23 Feb. 2025 These centrists want to scrap the lid on deducting state and local taxes from one’s federal 1040. — Bruce Fuller, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2025 An alliance between liberals, leftists, and centrists cemented—an all-hands-on-deck approach would be needed to defeat Trump. — Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for centrist

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“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/centrist. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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