as in conservative
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions
reactionary guardians of proper English usage invariably regard every new coinage that comes along as a nonword
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rightist
a person whose political beliefs are centered on tradition and keeping things the way they are
reactionaries tried to stop the passage of the legislation extending civil rights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fogey
a person with old-fashioned ideas
a reactionary in the nation's ongoing culture war, she seems to believe that watching any TV at all will rot your brain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reactionary
Vincent Frank, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
The Supreme Court was packed with partisan and reactionary justices when Mitch McConnell denied President Obama an appointment and jammed through a third Trump appointee in the last few weeks of his administration.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024
The enthusiasm that these substances arouse in the field of psychiatry is inversely correlated with the sad reality that even the most reactionary guilds within psychiatry struggle to admit.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024
Political and algorithmic incentives amplified the most extreme and entertaining voices and reactionary takes, making stars of creators on the ideological fringes.
—Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reactionary 
Adjective
This is not necessarily the Jets’ brass being reactionary to Sunday’s loss.
—Vincent Frank, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
The Supreme Court was packed with partisan and reactionary justices when Mitch McConnell denied President Obama an appointment and jammed through a third Trump appointee in the last few weeks of his administration.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024
The enthusiasm that these substances arouse in the field of psychiatry is inversely correlated with the sad reality that even the most reactionary guilds within psychiatry struggle to admit.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024
Political and algorithmic incentives amplified the most extreme and entertaining voices and reactionary takes, making stars of creators on the ideological fringes.
—Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reactionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactionary
Adjective
-
The company maintains a conservative liquidity position with available-for-sale securities and credit availability with the Federal Home Loan Bank.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
-
This election ran smoothly because of the legislation and proactive lawsuits from the conservative movement, argued Arizona state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a Republican who was sanctioned by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in challenging the 2020 election.Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
That’s well away from most other deer — and hunters, who are focusing on better-looking ground with better traditional habitat hundreds of yards away.Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
-
The Japan Times reported that the letters were carved into a wooden pillar of a traditional entrance, known as a torii gate, at the Meiji Shrine.Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Andy Paley, a veteran producer and musician who worked with a wide range of artists including Brian Wilson, the Ramones, Madonna, Jonathan Richman, Elton John, Deborah Harry, NRBQ and many others, died following a brief battle with cancer, a rep confirms to Variety.Bob Merlis, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
-
Letterkenny producer New Metric Media has tapped SiriusXM Canada veteran Ben Miner to launch a new division to drive into standup comedy and podcasting.Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Funnels and Pinch Points Funnels and pinch-points are among the most orthodox stand locations during the rut.Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
-
Harris emphasized distributional conflict at a time when few orthodox economists were doing so.John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near reactionary
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionary. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share