Synonyms of reactionary

reactionary 1 of 2

adjective

rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē 

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

• conservative
• traditional
• orthodox
• loyal
• unprogressive
• conventional
• staunch
• ultraconservative
• hidebound
• traditionalistic
• old-fashioned
• old-line
• old-school
• archconservative
• faithful
• steadfast
• standpat
• die-hard
• devoted
• paleoconservative
• true
• buttoned-down
• button-down
• mossbacked
• right-wing
• neoconservative
• brassbound
• square
• Tory
• steady
• stodgy
• true-blue
• ossified
• ultraright
• stanch
• antiliberal
• fogyish
• antimodern
• fogeyish
• ultrarightist
• right
• dowdy
• fuddy-duddy
• set
• blimpish
• antiprogressive
• antirevolutionary
• antireform

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberal
• progressive
• radical
• revolutionary
• extremist
• nontraditional
• nonconservative
• unconventional
• unorthodox
• nonconventional
• antiestablishment
• broad-minded
• open-minded
• modern
• nonconformist
• contemporary
• large-minded
• advanced
• nonorthodox
• antitraditional
• anticonventional
• lefty
• ultraleft
• ultraleftist
• ultraradical
• ultraprogressive

reactionary

2 of 2

noun

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

• conservative
• rightist
• traditionalist
• Tory
• right-winger
• archconservative
• right-wing
• paleoconservative
• conformist
• neocon
• neoconservative
• right
• standpatter
• stuffed shirt
• bourbon
• Colonel Blimp
• diehard
• fuddy-duddy
• square

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberal
• leftist
• lefty
• extremist
• revolutionary
• red
• progressive
• revolutionist
• reformist
• left-winger
• radical
• reformer

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

• conservative
• fogey
• veteran
• fogy
• fossil
• mossback
• stuffed shirt
• stick-in-the-mud
• rightist
• Colonel Blimp
• antediluvian
• fuddy-duddy
• fud
• Tory
• dodo
• old hand
• mandarin
• old maid
• old-timer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• modern
• trendy
• liberal
• hipster
• progressive
• radical

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reactionary

Adjective

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

Teams take pride in removing emotion from decisions and loathe making moves that can be interpreted as reactionary. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

This reactionary strategy keeps companies mired in the past, unable to leverage real-time analytics, artificial intelligence and automation. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Vitamin C + Collagen packets $37 $31 at Amazon Being a safe and smart solo traveler means looking after my entire well-being in a preventative way, not just a reactionary way. —Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2025