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
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
The 17% reduction in workforce serves as a structural realignment rather than a reactionary cost-cutting initiative.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
Like Curtis Yarvin and other neo-reactionaries, Land abhors democracy.
—James Duesterberg, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Adjective
Even when The Breadwinner starts to tiptoe toward potential reactionary ideas about who belongs in the workplace and who belongs at home, the movie backs off and makes sure that no leaves the theater riled up.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
The 17% reduction in workforce serves as a structural realignment rather than a reactionary cost-cutting initiative.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactionary
Adjective
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While some political observers are brushing off speculation that a deluge of ballots could allow Steyer to crawl into the top two, conservative activists are keeping a close watch.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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Energy consultancy Rystad, meanwhile, believes a $1-2 per barrel premium on oil prices is a conservative estimate.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Voters in the June 16 Democratic runoff for insurance commissioner will choose between an Atlanta politician with a long record of public service but who is also in the midst of a significant campaign ethics probe or an industry veteran with two decades of experience but no time in office.—
Riley Bunch,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
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Spencer, an Army veteran with no law enforcement experience, defeated Staley, a Republican who’d been in office for over 13 years.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Launched in Taiwan last month to the sound of drums and a traditional lion dance, the 21,000-ton civilian vessel connects the northern Taiwan port of Keelung with the island of Ishigaki, in southwestern Japan’s idyllic Okinawa prefecture.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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At Miraval Berkshires, guests are immersed in an intimate, nature-rich setting that invites connection, whether that means getting to know others, engaging with our expert specialists, exploring team challenges, or participating in ceremonies grounded in traditional wisdom.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Valencia’s campaign is backed by most of the nation’s traditional parties and by economists who are concerned about the growing levels of debt under the Petro administration and want Colombia to return to more orthodox policies, the Associated Press reported.—
Armando Regil Velasco,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
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The documentary traces Hier’s path from an orthodox Jewish enclave to international prominence as the founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionary. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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