Meaning & use
neocon
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableinformaldisapproving
A short, often critical way of naming a neoconservative, a politician or thinker who supports strong national power and spreading democracy, by force if needed.
Grammar: Countable: a neocon, the neocons. Often used by critics, so it can sound negative.
Patterns
- neocons in the government
- a neocon like someone
Critics blamed the neocons for pushing the country into the war.
He was called a neocon because he supported military action overseas.
The magazine gave a platform to several leading neocons.
adjectivebefore a nouninformal
Relating to or typical of neoconservative ideas or people.
Grammar: Used before a noun: neocon ideas, a neocon think tank.
Patterns
- neocon policy
- neocon influence
She argued that neocon policy had weakened the country's standing.
The article described a neocon plan for the region.
He rejected the neocon view of foreign affairs.
Word forms
| plural | neocons |
|---|
Common combinations
- prominent neocon
- A prominent neocon advised the president on foreign policy.
- neocon agenda
- Opponents attacked what they called a neocon agenda.
- neocon think tank
- The report came from a neocon think tank in Washington.
- neocon influence
- Many writers have tracked neocon influence on foreign policy.
- accused of being a neocon
- She was accused of being a neocon for supporting the intervention.
Synonyms and how they differ
- neoconservative
- Neoconservative is the full, neutral form used in academic writing, while neocon is a casual and often hostile shortcut.
- hawk
- Hawk describes anyone who favors a tough military stance, whereas neocon implies a specific political movement and its ideas.
- conservative
- Conservative is a much broader term for people who favor tradition and limited change, and most conservatives are not neocons.
Opposites
Word family
- neoconservative noun
- the full word for a member of this political movement
- neoconservatism noun
- the set of ideas held by neoconservatives
- neoliberal adjective
- favoring free markets with less government control, a different movement
- conservative noun
- a person who supports tradition and gradual change
Commonly confused: neocon or neoliberal?
neocon vs neoliberal
Neoliberal refers to free-market economic ideas, while neocon refers mainly to foreign policy and national strength.
Practice
A writer who uses neocon in an article is most likely referring to ___.
Choose one answer.
Neocon is short for neoconservative, a political label linked with assertive foreign policy. The other options describe different groups.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “neocon”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.