Synonyms of reactionaries

reactionaries

noun

plural of reactionary

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conservatives
• rightists
• traditionalists
• right-wingers
• Tories
• paleoconservatives
• archconservatives
• conformists
• neocons
• neoconservatives
• right-wings
• rights
• standpatters
• diehards
• stuffed shirts
• bourbons
• fuddy-duddies
• squares

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberals
• progressives
• leftists
• radicals
• revolutionaries
• extremists
• revolutionists
• lefties
• left-wingers
• reds
• reformers
• reformists

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conservatives
• veterans
• fogies
• fossils
• mossbacks
• antediluvians
• fuddy-duddies
• stuffed shirts
• rightists
• stick-in-the-muds
• fuds
• Tories
• mandarins
• dodoes
• old hands
• old-timers
• old maids

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderns
• radicals
• liberals
• progressives
• hipsters
• trendies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reactionaries

But to his legions of enemies — from MAGA reactionaries to the Anti-Defamation League to mere centrist Democrats — Piker is a loudmouth extremist who’s actively harming the country. — Josh Eells, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026

Some reactionaries will always find a reason to demand all-white entertainment, regardless of whether there are mermaids, hobbits, or lightsabers involved. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

The Federal Reserve’s reactionaries are likely to then put pressure on Warsh to hike interest rates. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 21 July 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