SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
conservatism
noun
A preference for preserving established institutions and traditions and approaching change cautiously.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Preference for established practice
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topCaution is broader than conservatism; the term can describe a general attitude or a political outlook.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See conservatism in use
The seminar contrasted the architect's conservatism with a colleague's enthusiasm for experimentation.
Some members favored conservatism in workshop methods, preferring established routines and approaching major changes cautiously.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license