LEFTIST Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

leftist 1 of 2

adjective

as in liberal

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Dissimilar Words

leftist

2 of 2

noun

as in pinko

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Dissimilar Words

capitalist

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 leftist

Adjective

Wednesday’s State Department announcement also traced the collective to leftist groups across Europe that posted materials about their attacks on rail and energy infrastructure. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026 The leftist balladeer was furious that media accounts named the four white victims but none of the Mexicans, reducing them to their status as mere deportees. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Her comments come after the mass migration chaos in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, when Frederiksen criticized the actions of Spain's leftist leader, Pedro Sánchez, during a special session on Ceuta in the Danish Parliament. — Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Although Cuba played a central role in its operations, Tricontinental materials reflected a variety of leftist positions that did not always align perfectly with the Cuban government’s rhetoric. — Anne Garland Mahler, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026 But Mamdani Monday dismissed the idea that someone’s background disqualified them from advocating for a leftist, progressive agenda. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 The present growing embrace of leftist politics among the professional class suggests that the PMC is no longer especially enthusiastic about that mission. — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026 Increasing the stakes is Florida’s connection to Latin America, given that many expats settled in the state after fleeing autocratic leftist regimes in Cuba and Venezuela. — Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 In the more immediate future, how the leftist Democrats will impact Congress remains to be seen. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Noun

In fact, he’s decided to go all the way from an angry leftist to a very angry rightist. — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 The deepening rift comes as da Silva, a leftist, runs for a fourth term. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026 Tuesday night was a very good night to be a leftist in New York City. — Philip Elliott, Time, 24 June 2026 Raman is more likely than Bass to pick up the voters who chose community organizer Rae Huang, a leftist who, like Raman, is a DSA member. — Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 In New York, an inspiring young leftist competed against a boorish, but experienced, former governor to replace a corrupt mayor. — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026 The president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is a leftist with a PhD in engineering who prides herself on her scientific background. — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026 The last pope, Francis, could be filed away by American conservatives as an anti-American Latin American leftist, but Leo can’t. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 May 2026 Melton’s Austin starts as a baby leftist crying over a dead bee, then becomes torn between the authentic Korean cultural education Chairwoman Park claims to offer him and the increasingly ambitious Ashley, who wants to leverage Austin’s heritage for her own personal gain. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leftist

Adjective

These speeches, which Ossoff writes himself, have become a sensation among liberal voters, fueling talk of a presidential bid.

— Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Rafał Trzaskowski, the liberal candidate, proposed restricting child welfare benefits for Ukrainians.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of liberal

Noun

Headrick is second in the big leagues in appearances to Toronto lefty Mason Fluharty and permitted a run for only the 12th time.

— CBS News, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said the 31-year-old lefty has thrown several extended bullpen sessions, including a live one on Friday.

— Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of lefty

Adjective

Israel launched the war in response to an October 2023 invasion by Hamas which blindsided Netanyahu’s religious-rightist government.

— Dan Williams, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
As rightist parties surge across the UK, Labour members are betting on Burnham — who easily won a parliamentary seat last week — to salvage their moribund agenda.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 June 2026

Definition of rightist

Noun

As Cuba’s hot summer nears its end with no sign of regime change on the communist-run island, Cubans continue to suffer miserable living conditions as the country’s humanitarian crisis gets disturbingly worse.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Susan, one message the Republicans have very clear is about their opponents, the Democrats, calling them communists.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of communist

Adjective

The Court has been persistently reactionary in its dealings with other branches, using horizontal review to protect enslavers from abolitionists, bosses from unions, and tycoons from tax collectors.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Palladium is a quarterly publication whose founders were active in online neo-reactionary circles.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of reactionary

Noun

An unstoppable wave of democratic socialists is standing up for the working class and winning because of their principled stances — not despite them.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Ideological fractures linger among Democrats Some Democratic officials worry that the rise of democratic socialists within the party presents a political problem for candidates in swing districts.

— Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of socialist

Adjective

Strommen has an Instagram feed with tributes to Charlie Kirk, but that didn’t prevent her from working closely with Gorman, who, while technically in a nonpartisan position, is married to Mark Spreitzer, a progressive Democratic state senator.

— Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
On Thursday, Nixon, a progressive, said criminal charges should be a possibility, despite the grand jury not recommending them.

— Liv Caputo, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of progressive

Noun

Featuring warm neutrals, earthy tones, muted pinks, clay hues, and airy blues, the palette includes shades inspired by nature—from sandy beaches to golden autumn leaves.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026
Curtis unfolded a map of the museum with eight galleries circled in hot pink.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of pink

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“Leftist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leftist. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of leftist

adjective

noun

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