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
From the day after the 9th of Thermidor there were, therefore, two opposite parties among the conquerors, that of the committees, and that of the Mountain, which was called the Thermidorian party.
From History of the French Revolution from 1789 to 1814 by M. (François-Auguste-Marie-Alexis) Mignet
Bouvard, being liberal-minded and of a sensitive nature, was a Constitutionalist, 148a Girondist, a Thermidorian; Pécuchet, being of a bilious temperament and a lover of authority, declared himself a sans-culotte, and even a Robespierrist.
From Bouvard and Pécuchet A Tragi-comic Novel of Bourgeois Life by Gustave Flaubert
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