reactionary

[ ree-ak-shuh-ner-ee ]

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

noun

, plural re·ac·tion·ar·ies.

1. a reactionary person.

   Synonyms: ultraconservative

   Antonyms: radical

reactionary

/ -ʃənrɪ; rɪˈækʃənərɪ /

adjective

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

noun

1. a person opposed to radical change

reactionary

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.

Derived Forms

• reˈactionism, noun

Other Words From

• re·action·ism re·action·ary·ism re·ac·tion·ar·ism [ree-, ak, -sh, uh, -n, uh, -riz-, uh, m], noun
• anti·re·action·ary noun plural antireactionaries adjective
• half-re·action·ary adjective
• nonre·action·ary adjective noun plural nonreactionaries
• semi·re·action·ary adjective noun plural semireactionaries
• unre·action·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reactionary¹

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

Example Sentences

Conspiratorial doubt is not one that moves the world forward but a reactionary belief that tethers our world to the status quo.

From Nautilus

There is good reason to hope, in other words, that the current Supreme Court wouldn’t be so reactionary as to strike down a vaccine mandate.

From Vox

Otherwise they are subject to the whims of a reactionary process that you have no say in whatsoever.

From Digiday

However, one reason the right’s reactionary movement wields political power is that many of the tones underlying the debates over free speech on campuses are also playing out in conservative media outlets.

From FiveThirtyEight

To Goulding, Microsoft’s new offering is unproven yet and a reactionary move.

From TechCrunch

I do, however, intend it to sound mean about the reactionary, prejudice-infested place she comes from.

From The Daily Beast

Reactionary movements are, first and foremost, not rational.

From The Daily Beast

The 4th of July has been reactionary, chauvinistic, and out-of-date since 1776.

From The Daily Beast

Reactionary conservative candidates did alarmingly well in recent elections for the European Parliament.

From The Daily Beast

So Rove—I will give him this much—knows the workings of the fearful, reactionary mind.

From The Daily Beast

It was one of the conservative sheets, comic-less, reactionary Republican to the core.

From Project Gutenberg

This was effected, and Louis Philippe was balked of his desire to interfere in Portugal to promote a reactionary policy.

From Project Gutenberg

Her husband expressed himself forcibly on a public occasion against some reactionary measures of the government.

From Project Gutenberg

Into this surcharged atmosphere came Metternich with his exaggerated statements about the great reactionary party in France.

From Project Gutenberg

We are not speaking of a reactionary revolution but of the "activist."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• archconservative
• counterrevolutionary
• regressive
• rightist
• ultraconservative