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.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

reaction of degeneration, reaction time, reaction turbine, reaction, chemical, reaction-formation, reactionary, reactivate, reactive, reactive component, reactive depression, reactive hyperemia

Sometimes re·ac·tion·ist [ree-ak-shuh-nist] /riˈæk ʃə nɪst/.

Origin of reactionary

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

SYNONYMS FOR reactionary

1, 2 ultraconservative.

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ANTONYMS FOR reactionary

1, 2 radical.

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Related forms

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

Can be confused

proactive reactionary reactive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reactionary

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The 4th of July has been reactionary, chauvinistic, and out-of-date since 1776.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
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
This is enough to prevent our being led astray in our struggle against "the reactionary mass."
Anarchism and Socialism|George Plechanoff
Group-impulse among Caucasians is nearly always frightened, conservative, reactionary, or derisive of the forward step.
The Conquest of Fear|Basil King
To them the time had come when the reactionary forces of Manitou must receive a check.
The World For Sale, Complete|Gilbert Parker
We shall firmly defend our own liberty against all reactionary threats, whether they come from without or within.
Bolshevism|John Spargo

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

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

Culture 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.