reactionary

adjective

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

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
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.
And so The Diplomat sets the stage for Wyler to be schooled, over and over, by Penn and her reactionary doctrine through the end of the season, a dynamic that with each scene reveals how little the series has done to make Wyler a lucid character of her own. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 Stokes was reactionary whereas McCullum was more reflective. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 The Reaganite values that most endure are the reactionary ones: his hostility toward civil rights, feminism, and the welfare state. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 Reagan’s anti-Berkeley campaign provided a blueprint for reactionary politics moving forward; going through a performance of disaffection from the university was a way to gesture towards (without always admitting) a broader disaffection with liberalism. Adrian Daub / Made By History, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near reactionary

Cite this Entry

“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactionary. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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