reactionary

American  

[ree-ak-shuh-ner-ee] / riˈæk ʃəˌnɛr i /

Sometimes reactionist

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, marked by, or favoring reaction, especially extreme conservatism or rightism in politics; opposing political or social change.

   Synonyms:

   ultraconservative

   Antonyms:

   radical

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noun

• reactionaries
  plural

1. a reactionary person.

   Synonyms:

   ultraconservative

   Antonyms:

   radical

reactionary British  

/ rɪˈækʃənərɪ, -ʃənrɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by reaction, esp against radical political or social change

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noun

1. a person opposed to radical change

reactionary Cultural  

1. An extremely conservative person or position that not only resists change but seeks to return to the “good old days” of an earlier social order.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antireactionary
  noun
• reactionarism
  noun
• reactionaryism
  noun
• reactionism
  noun
• half-reactionary
  adjective
• nonreactionary
  adjective
• semireactionary
  adjective
• unreactionary
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reactionaries
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of reactionary

1830–40; reaction + -ary; compare French réactionnaire

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Explanation

A reactionary is someone who opposes reform or change, especially in the realm of politics. A reactionary is someone reacting (in horror) to what others consider to be progress. No one describes themselves as reactionary — you will hear it more often as a condemnation, as in "I cannot support the reactionary policy of mandatory military service for 18-year-olds."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reactionary reactionaries

“Because we focus so much on the kind of retroactive or reactionary human caseload, we miss the opportunity to control the vector and to understand more about the vector,” LaDeau said.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

Pickford also won the competition's save-of-the-season award for a second time last season following a remarkable reactionary stop, external from Sandro Tonali's volley to secure Everton's 3-2 win at St James' Park in February.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

We need a coordinated maritime security framework that goes beyond reactionary naval escorts to include long-term diplomatic and economic safeguards.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

And I sure don’t underestimate L.A.’s middle-class malaise, long a reactionary force in city politics with a winning track record that spans decades.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

I never met anybody so dedicated to fighting reactionary ideas and prejudice as this folk- singer.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Deeply discount the moaning of Hollywood reactionaries and certain podcasters trying to edge themselves into the spotlight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 9, 2025

In moving his antihero between Vietnam and 1970s California, home of self-obsessed good vibrations, conflicted refugees and rabid anti-communist reactionaries, Nguyen reveals a series of rich dichotomies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2025

But it also helps reactionaries hide in plain sight.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2024

Or even from prominent reactionaries like Elon Musk and Dave Portnoy.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2024

By co-operating with the Radicals and National Liberals, the progressive elements had a majority over the Conservative and Clerical reactionaries for the first time in the history of the empire.

From Socialism and Democracy in Europe by Samuel P. Orth

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Related Words

• archconservative
• counterrevolutionary
• regressive
• rightist
• ultraconservative

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