Thermidorian

or Ther·mi·do·re·an

[ thur-mi-dawr-ee-uhn, -dohr- ]

noun

1. a member of the French moderate group who participated in the downfall of Robespierre and his followers on the 9th Thermidor (July 27th), 1794.
2. a supporter of the reactionary movement following this coup d'état.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Thermidorian¹

From the French word thermidorien, dating back to 1820–30. See Thermidor, -ian

Example Sentences

Robespierre’s execution kicked off the Thermidorian Reaction, in which France returned to more conservative policies.

From Los Angeles Times

Critics of the Constitution, then and now, have condemned it as a betrayal of the core principles of the American Revolution, an American version of France’s Thermidorian reaction.

From Literature

Every revolution, no matter how small and self-invented, creates its own version of the Reign of Terror, and then its own Thermidorian Reaction, when the radical leaders are themselves sent to the guillotine.

From Salon

The government, mainly Thermidorian, trimmed between Moderates and Independents, and for this reason its actions were often inconsistent.

From Project Gutenberg

The Thermidorian government also endeavoured to pacify the rebels of the west.

From Project Gutenberg