conservative 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈsər-və-tiv How to pronounce conservative (audio)
Definition of conservativenext
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1
as in traditional
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions conservative baseball fans consider the new ballpark too modern-looking and plain ugly

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2
as in muted
not excessively showy dressing in conservative outfits so as to make a good impression at job interviews

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3
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble made conservative investments, and so he wasn't ruined when the market went into a free fall

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conservative

2 of 2

noun

as in Tory
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are proposed legislation that was opposed by conservatives throughout the state

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Example Sentences

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 conservative
Adjective
In his remarks following the results of the vote, Carney shot back at his conservative opponent. — Hira Humayun, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025 Do conservative standard operating procedures inhibit innovative or entrepreneurial explorations capable of enhancing profitability? — John Cairney, Sportico.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
Massie, a staunch fiscal conservative, has a history of opposing his party on some key votes. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 In the months following Donald Trump’s second presidential victory, the Court — which has a 6-3 conservative majority — has seemingly doubled down on its willingness to hear cases in which conservatives claim discrimination on the grounds of First Amendment and/or religious freedoms. — Abby Monteil, Them, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conservative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conservative
  1. traditional
  2. muted
  3. cautious
  4. orthodox
  5. quiet
  6. careful
  7. restrained
  8. wary
Adjective
  • Her focus is less on traditional metrics like follower count and more on the creator’s ability to create compelling, educational content that aligns well with brands.
    — Kristen Bousquet, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • For some people, though, having an alternative to traditional health insurance is revolutionary enough.
    — Alana Semuels, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • However, the muted consumer and producer price reports for February might not necessarily be good news for the U.S. Federal Reserve.
    — Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Hadid’s makeup included softer elements, like faint brows and a muted lip to accentuate her look.
    — Julia Teti, WWD, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of muted
Adjective
  • Some loyal Tesla bulls are treating the drop as a temporary setback (or even a buying opportunity), while more cautious investors are rethinking their exposure.
    — Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • China's approach to Trump's second term is more cautious, with the government emphasizing that any negotiations should take place on equal terms.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • Gone now is the academic theology, replaced by a pastor who is more interested in talking about Jesus on a personal level and leaving questions about orthodox doctrine to rulings from the Roman Curia.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Understanding the Concept of Fire Watch A fire watch is a safety protocol instigated when a property's orthodox fire prevention measures are compromised, or altogether missing.
    — Kyle Russell, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • After a period of quiet, Adultery is Poison Pen’s debut commission.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
  • While a flurry of trades and new contracts marked an early start to free agency this week, the Chargers have stayed quiet.
    — Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • These concerns underscore the need for careful consideration of privacy rights when deploying such technology.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Rendering animal fat requires careful heating and purification to remove impurities.
    — Boutayna Chokrane, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • His restrained direction keeps the brothers in check and underpowered.
    — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The statement, written by lawmakers who are typically more restrained in their comments given their sensitive roles on security issues, contained some of the party’s most pointed criticism yet of Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk just hours before the president was to address a joint session of Congress.
    — Carl Hulse, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of restrained
Adjective
  • Egypt is wary of the Muslim Brotherhood in which Hamas has its roots and has been fighting militant insurgents in the Sinai Peninsula, which neighbors Gaza.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Cuban compared people who are wary of adopting AI tools in the workplace to those who were once afraid to embrace PCs and mobile devices.
    — Tom Huddleston Jr.,Megan Sauer, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of wary

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Cite this Entry

“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conservative. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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