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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in veteran
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reactionary
Georgia Casey, Allure, 6 Feb. 2026
Vytas, now staying with his growingly reactionary parents, makes a more concerted effort to join the resistance movement, staging public performance-art protests, volunteering at a food bank, and attempting to cut off his folks’ access to Russian propaganda on satellite TV.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
In middle age, some sports fans become reactionaries.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Adjective
But in most people, facial bloating and undereye puffiness are usually just reactionary.
—Georgia Casey, Allure, 6 Feb. 2026
Vytas, now staying with his growingly reactionary parents, makes a more concerted effort to join the resistance movement, staging public performance-art protests, volunteering at a food bank, and attempting to cut off his folks’ access to Russian propaganda on satellite TV.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactionary
Adjective
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Her goals include an increase in military power, more government spending and ultra-conservative social policies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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That debate flared back to life during this ongoing Winter Olympics, especially on popular conservative podcasts and media outlets.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That’s when Young and Davis are expected to be the top veterans on a team that features a young nucleus that includes Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Will Riley and others.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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With two veterans gone, Coach Tyronn Lue will be looking deeper down the bench for help, especially late in games.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There are five treatment rooms in total, and a traditional hammam is essential for the full Moroccan experience.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
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The album's eclectic throwback sound pays tribute to the singer's Boricua roots, incorporating traditional genres such as Plena, salsa and jibaro into his signature Latin urbano style.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Fitness issues for Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto, as well as Estevao being freshly back from compassionate leave, left Rosenior with his orthodox wing options severely depleted.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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The production company’s development slate is highlighted by the action-drama Barney Ross, a story about the titular orthodox rabbinical student who, after witnessing the murder of his rabbi father, fell in with a young Al Capone and Jack Ruby.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionary. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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