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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reactionaries
Like Curtis Yarvin and other neo-reactionaries, Land abhors democracy.
—
James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
In middle age, some sports fans become reactionaries.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
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
James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
In middle age, some sports fans become reactionaries.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
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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Remember when conservatives looked down on winning due to a technicality?—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Some conservatives have rejected the legal justification for Section 122.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Last season, the Horns got a taste of their first Final Four since 2023 and return a nice mix of veterans and young up-and-comers to try to make a return trip to the national semifinals.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
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Her ideas range from a dog adoption event at each stadium to bringing in local veterans as volunteer staff for the games.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reactionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionaries. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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