reactionary

adjective

re·​ac·​tion·​ary rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē 

: relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction

especially : ultraconservative in politics

reactionary noun

reactionaryism

rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē-ˌi-zəm 

noun

Synonyms

• archconservative
• brassbound
• button-down
• buttoned-down
• conservative
• die-hard
• hidebound
• mossbacked
• old-fashioned
• old-line
• old-school
• orthodox
• paleoconservative
• standpat
• traditional
• traditionalistic
• ultraconservative
• unprogressive

Examples of reactionary in a Sentence

reactionary guardians of proper English usage invariably regard every new coinage that comes along as a nonword

Recent Examples on the Web

Prepare these budgets in advance to avoid making reactionary measures if indeed Social Security payments are disrupted. —True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

These weren’t reactionary opinions in the moment, either. —Jeff Howe, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Grandin is distressed by the resurgence today of reactionary impulses in the United States. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

For Bailey — who faced an overwhelming, toxic backlash from a contingent of reactionary gamers for her role The Last of Us Part II — adding scenes that brace the audience for Joel’s death is a wise choice. —Scott Meslow, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reactionary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

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