compassionate conservative
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of compassionate conservative
First recorded in 1980–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, a compassionate conservative who championed civil rights and environmental protections, announced his intention to run against John F. Kennedy in the 1964 election, Didion embraced his candidacy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2025
President George W. Bush campaigned for the White House in 2000 as a compassionate conservative.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 18, 2020
While Mike Huckabee began his political career literally locked out, he eventually became a popular leader in Arkansas known as a compassionate conservative willing to work across partisan barriers to solve problems.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 10, 2017
He did not come across as a compassionate conservative with sympathy for the down and out.
From New York Times ● May 3, 2016
John Kasich is this generation’s compassionate conservative, who cites his faith as justification for expanding Medicaid and extending “unconditional love” to gays and lesbians.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
