reactionary

adjective

re·​ac·​tion·​ary rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce reactionary (audio)
Synonyms of reactionarynext
: relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction
especially : ultraconservative in politics
reactionary noun
reactionaryism
rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce reactionary (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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Examples of reactionary in a Sentence

reactionary guardians of proper English usage invariably regard every new coinage that comes along as a nonword
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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.
But even if the headline acts have to be quietly canceled, the appointment of figures like Sacks and Peirce signal that the reactionary era of US crypto policy is over. — Sean Lee, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 Amanat recognizes how even their own internal conversations went to either end of the reactionary spectrum. — Nick Romano, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2025 An insufferably reactionary and conservative view of the counterculture? — Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025 The construction of the European Union has some roots in conservative and reactionary politics. — TIME, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reactionary

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reactionary was in 1815

Rhymes for reactionary

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reactionary
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Cite this Entry

“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactionary. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

reactionary

1 of 2 adjective
re·​ac·​tion·​ary
rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē
: of, relating to, or favoring old-fashioned political or social ideas

reactionary

2 of 2 noun
plural reactionaries
: a reactionary person

More from Merriam-Webster on reactionary

Nglish: Translation of reactionary for Spanish Speakers

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