reactionary

[ ree-ak-shuh-ner-ee ]

/ riˈæk ʃəˌnɛr i /

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adjective

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

noun, plural re·ac·tion·ar·ies.

a reactionary person.

OTHER WORDS FOR reactionary

1, 2 ultraconservative.

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OPPOSITES FOR reactionary

1, 2 radical.

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Sometimes re·ac·tion·ist

[ree-ak-shuh-nist] /riˈæk ʃə nɪst/ .

Origin of reactionary

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

OTHER WORDS FROM reactionary

re·ac·tion·ism, re·ac·tion·ar·y·ism, re·ac·tion·ar·ism

[ree-ak-shuh-nuh-riz-uhm], /riˈæk ʃə nəˌrɪz əm/, nounan·ti·re·ac·tion·ar·y, noun, plural an·ti·re·ac·tion·ar·ies, adjectivehalf-re·ac·tion·ar·y, adjectivenon·re·ac·tion·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·re·ac·tion·ar·ies.

sem·i·re·ac·tion·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural sem·i·re·ac·tion·ar·ies.un·re·ac·tion·ar·y, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reactionary

proactive, reactionary , reactive

Words nearby reactionary

reacquire, react, reactance, reactant, reaction, reactionary, reaction chamber, reaction engine, reaction formation, reaction time, reaction turbine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reactionary in a sentence

Conspiratorial doubt is not one that moves the world forward but a reactionary belief that tethers our world to the status quo.
We Have to Talk About Doubt - Issue 104: Harmony|David Krakauer|September 1, 2021|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.
Yes, Covid-19 vaccine mandates are legal|Ian Millhiser|July 30, 2021|Vox
Otherwise they are subject to the whims of a reactionary process that you have no say in whatsoever.
Controversy around newsrooms’ social media policies emboldening the call for unionized media workplaces|Sara Guaglione|June 7, 2021|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.
How ‘Cancel Culture’ Became An Issue For Young Republicans|Meredith Conroy|March 22, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

To Goulding, Microsoft’s new offering is unproven yet and a reactionary move.
Inside Workvivo’s plans to take on Microsoft in the employee experience space|Mary Ann Azevedo|March 4, 2021|TechCrunch
I do, however, intend it to sound mean about the reactionary, prejudice-infested place she comes from.
Dems, It’s Time to Dump Dixie|Michael Tomasky|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Reactionary movements are, first and foremost, not rational.
Rage Against GamerGate’s Hate Machine: What I Got For Speaking Up|Arthur Chu|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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 4th|P. J. O’Rourke|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Reactionary conservative candidates did alarmingly well in recent elections for the European Parliament.
Fascism Is Fashionable Again in Europe|Thane Rosenbaum|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So Rove—I will give him this much—knows the workings of the fearful, reactionary mind.
Karl Rove May Be Evil, but He’s No Genius|Michael Tomasky|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was one of the conservative sheets, comic-less, reactionary Republican to the core.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
This was effected, and Louis Philippe was balked of his desire to interfere in Portugal to promote a reactionary policy.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
Her husband expressed himself forcibly on a public occasion against some reactionary measures of the government.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 4 of 8|Various
Into this surcharged atmosphere came Metternich with his exaggerated statements about the great reactionary party in France.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte|William Milligan Sloane
We are not speaking of a reactionary revolution but of the "activist."
The New Society|Walther Rathenau

British Dictionary definitions for reactionary

reactionary

reactionist

/ (rɪˈækʃənərɪ, -ʃənrɪ) /

adjective

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

noun plural -aries or -ists

a person opposed to radical change

Derived forms of reactionary

reactionism, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for reactionary

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.

reactionary

OTHER WORDS FOR reactionary

OPPOSITES FOR reactionary

Origin of reactionary

OTHER WORDS FROM reactionary

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reactionary

Words nearby reactionary

Words related to reactionary

How to use reactionary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reactionary

reactionist

Derived forms of reactionary

Cultural definitions for reactionary