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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fogey
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
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The real truth is that no one should care about what reactionary, overwrought critics have to say.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Quite literally mimicking the effect of watercolor paint on paper, pro makeup artist Kasey Spickard equates its rise in popularity to beauty’s shift towards skincare-makeup hybrids as another take on a natural flush—perhaps even a reactionary response to the heavy matte makeup of the 2010s.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 31 July 2025
Many criticized and pushed back against the clip, which sparked a counter-reaction from reactionary content creators, who heralded the ad as a cultural victory.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Adjective
This week followed up on the previous episode’s conundrum: Who is Eric Cartman when the entire world has gone reactionary?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The real truth is that no one should care about what reactionary, overwrought critics have to say.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Quite literally mimicking the effect of watercolor paint on paper, pro makeup artist Kasey Spickard equates its rise in popularity to beauty’s shift towards skincare-makeup hybrids as another take on a natural flush—perhaps even a reactionary response to the heavy matte makeup of the 2010s.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 31 July 2025
Many criticized and pushed back against the clip, which sparked a counter-reaction from reactionary content creators, who heralded the ad as a cultural victory.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactionary
Adjective
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First, the Heritage Foundation was never conservative.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
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This was no isolated outburst, but part of a broader effort to delegitimize conservative participation in academic life.—
Ilya Shapiro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Folks fill empty totes and baskets with loaves of the traditional bread ($15), and for good reason.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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The business Facebook page is dominated by promotions for its music and dancing, starting at 9 p.m. The restaurant, where traditional Peruvian entrées are priced at $16-$18, closes at 9.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The 29-year-old veteran details Florida’s rise as a hockey powerhouse.—
DJ Siddiqi,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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The Dolphins augmented their cornerback room on Wednesday, adding veteran Cameron Dantzler Sr., who made 26 starts for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this decade but has been out of the league for the past year-and-a-half.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Funds could support conservative seminaries like Nashotah House, a conservative seminary in the Anglican tradition, or pastors from the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, ensuring orthodox leadership for historic churches.—
The Rev. Jake Dell,
Hartford Courant,
7 July 2025
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The religious advisory board includes Christian and Jewish members from traditions including Catholicism, evangelicalism, Greek Orthodox Christianity and orthodox Judaism.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionary. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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