reactive
adjective
re·ac·tive
rē-ˈak-tiv 
2
a
: readily responsive to a stimulus
b
: occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset
reactive depression
reactively
adverb
reactiveness
noun
Examples of reactive in a Sentence
The government's response to the problem was reactive rather than proactive.
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet, despite the clear demand, our collective response remains fragmented, reactive, and in many cases, ineffective.
—
Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Iannone sounded a positive note over the potential impact of tariffs, at least on the collectibles segment, given trading cards are largely an internal U.S. market and tend to be less reactive to spending pullbacks by consumers compared to purchases of new items.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 1 May 2025
With traditional systems emphasizing reactive care, the need for a proactive approach to health has never been more urgent.
—William Jones, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
The aluminum core offers excellent heat conductivity while the steel surrounding it creates an evenly heated cooking surface that’s also less reactive to acidic ingredients.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactive
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Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Iannone sounded a positive note over the potential impact of tariffs, at least on the collectibles segment, given trading cards are largely an internal U.S. market and tend to be less reactive to spending pullbacks by consumers compared to purchases of new items.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 1 May 2025
With traditional systems emphasizing reactive care, the need for a proactive approach to health has never been more urgent.
—William Jones, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
The aluminum core offers excellent heat conductivity while the steel surrounding it creates an evenly heated cooking surface that’s also less reactive to acidic ingredients.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactive
Cite this Entry
“Reactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactive. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reactive
adjective
re·ac·tive
rē-ˈak-tiv
1
: of or relating to reaction
2
: reacting or tending to react
Medical Definition
reactive
adjective
re·ac·tive
rē-ˈak-tiv
1
2
a
: readily responsive to a stimulus
the skin of the geriatric is less reactive than that of younger persons—Louis Tuft
Louis Tuft
b
: occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset especially from factors outside the organism
reactive depression
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