Thermidorian
Americannoun
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a member of the French moderate group who participated in the downfall of Robespierre and his followers on the 9th Thermidor (July 27th), 1794.
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a supporter of the reactionary movement following this coup d'état.
Etymology
Origin of Thermidorian
From the French word thermidorien, dating back to 1820–30. See Thermidor, -ian
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.
According to the authors, “HTS’s trajectory has revolved around two principal axes: an ideological realignment toward the center, and a Thermidorian shift” away from the revolution.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025
If the conflicts ended with Robespierre’s death and the ensuing Thermidorian Reaction, characterized by a retreat from violent purges in 1794-95, fundamental instability persisted until Napoleon Bonaparte imposed order.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025
Robespierre’s execution kicked off the Thermidorian Reaction, in which France returned to more conservative policies.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2023
The government, mainly Thermidorian, trimmed between Moderates and Independents, and for this reason its actions were often inconsistent.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 2 "French Literature" to "Frost, William" by Various
When the Thermidorian reaction came, all the atrocities of the Reign of Terror were imputed to him.
From Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 3 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron
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.
