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

plural

reactionaries

1. a reactionary person.

   Synonyms:

   ultraconservative

   Antonyms:

   radical

reactionary British  

/ -ʃənrɪ, rɪˈækʃənərɪ /

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

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

Etymology

Origin of reactionary

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

Example Sentences

Investors are waking up to the harsh realities and the financial penalties of a reordered, reactionary world.

From The Wall Street Journal

"If believing in God is reactionary, then we are also reactionary," he told his party's meeting in parliament on Tuesday.

From Barron's

This means the stock and options markets should be stuck in a volatile reactionary state for a prolonged period.

From Barron's

It won best film, best director for Anderson and best supporting actor for Sean Penn, who played reactionary villain Colonel Steven Lockjaw in the movie but wasn't in attendance.

From BBC

After all, what could enrage reactionaries more than a confident, gender-bending, anti-colonial Puerto Rican performing in Spanish on the country’s most mythologized stage?

From Salon

Related Words

• archconservative
• counterrevolutionary
• regressive
• rightist
• ultraconservative