Thermidorian
Americannoun
-
a member of the French moderate group who participated in the downfall of Robespierre and his followers on the 9th Thermidor (July 27th), 1794.
-
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
About four in the afternoon, there remain hardly more than some Sixty Members: mere friends, or even secret-leaders; a remnant of the Mountain-crest, held in silence by Thermidorian thraldom.
From The French Revolution by Carlyle, Thomas
The Thermidorian government also endeavoured to pacify the rebels of the west.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 2 "French Literature" to "Frost, William" by Various
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.
