reactionary
- of, pertaining to, marked by, or favoring reaction, especially extreme conservatism or rightism in politics; opposing political or social change.
- a reactionary person.
Origin of reactionary
Synonyms for reactionary
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for reactionary
Related Words for reactionary
rightist, rigid, regressive, counterrevolutionary, traditionalist, right, obscurantist, Tory, ultraconservative, diehard, royalist, die-hard, orthodox, traditional, retrogressive, traditionalistic, old-line, standpat, intransigent, reactionistExamples from the Web for reactionary
Contemporary Examples of reactionary
I do, however, intend it to sound mean about the reactionary, prejudice-infested place she comes from.
Reactionary movements are, first and foremost, not rational.
The 4th of July has been reactionary, chauvinistic, and out-of-date since 1776.
P.J. O'Rourke: 27 Sensitive, Caring, Green, and Politically Committed Reasons to Ban July 4thP. J. O’Rourke
July 3, 2014
Reactionary conservative candidates did alarmingly well in recent elections for the European Parliament.
So Rove—I will give him this much—knows the workings of the fearful, reactionary mind.
Historical Examples of reactionary
Decidedly, he ought to have sold himself to the reactionary party.
The Fortune of the RougonsEmile Zola
Perhaps conservative is not the word; reactionary would be closer.
Blood and IronJohn Hubert Greusel
And I am not alone in resenting your reactionary tendencies.
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
Being a reactionary, I still felt that woman's place was not in the Army or Navy.
The Winged Men of OrconDavid R. Sparks
We are not speaking of a reactionary revolution but of the "activist."
The New SocietyWalther Rathenau
reactionary
reactionist
- of, relating to, or characterized by reaction, esp against radical political or social change
- a person opposed to radical change
Word Origin and History for reactionary
1831, on model of French réactionnaire (19c.), from réaction (see reaction). In Marxist use, "tending toward reversing existing tendencies," opposed to revolutionary and used opprobriously in reference to opponents of communism, by 1858. As a noun, "person considered reactionary," especially in politics, one who seeks to check or undo political action, by 1855.
reactionary
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.