1
as in conservatives
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in veterans
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
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Recent Examples of reactionaries
Radicals such as Sumner also warned, presciently, that the Fifteenth Amendment did not go far enough, and that its flaws would ultimately allow anti-Black reactionaries to undermine its purpose.
—
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Like Curtis Yarvin and other neo-reactionaries, Land abhors democracy.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Yes, the movie’s reactionaries are ridiculous, never more so than when Penn’s comic-book antagonist is onscreen.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
When Atsu was first revealed as the game’s protagonist, reactionaries jumped to disavow the sequel, citing bad-faith reasoning that failed to hide their prejudices.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Like Curtis Yarvin and other neo-reactionaries, Land abhors democracy.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Yes, the movie’s reactionaries are ridiculous, never more so than when Penn’s comic-book antagonist is onscreen.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
When Atsu was first revealed as the game’s protagonist, reactionaries jumped to disavow the sequel, citing bad-faith reasoning that failed to hide their prejudices.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactionaries
Noun
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That is critical, South Carolina conservatives say, in a crowded race where there is a high likelihood for a June 23 runoff if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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Analysts say younger, progressive voters tend to hold onto their ballots longer than conservatives.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Noun
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And the veterans were lauded for their service by grateful citizens, whether in France, in Germany, or at home.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
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In May, Hegseth awarded Purple Hearts to nine veterans at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, who were wounded in a 2003 attack at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait.—
Steve Beynon,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reactionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionaries. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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