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 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
Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Within this context, Harold, in desperate need of a friend, falls under the sway of Casey, a colleague who introduces him to the weight-lifting lifestyle and, eventually, a reactionary mindset.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
The Dreyfusards, his defenders, were largely liberal supporters of the secular, democratic Republic; the anti-Dreyfusards were mostly Roman Catholic reactionaries who despised everything the modern state represented.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Adjective
This cycle of reactionary leadership not only stifles innovation but also erodes trust and morale within organizations.
—Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Within this context, Harold, in desperate need of a friend, falls under the sway of Casey, a colleague who introduces him to the weight-lifting lifestyle and, eventually, a reactionary mindset.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
The Dreyfusards, his defenders, were largely liberal supporters of the secular, democratic Republic; the anti-Dreyfusards were mostly Roman Catholic reactionaries who despised everything the modern state represented.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactionary
Adjective
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This is a sister organization to the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025—a sweeping conservative policy blueprint aimed at reshaping the federal government by expanding presidential power, dismantling parts of the civil service, and rolling back regulations across agencies.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Those frequently violent protests in downtown Portland stretched on for more than 100 days and became a top target for conservative leaders who argued Democratic leaders of major cities were being too soft on criminals.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Hogle Zoo always offers a range of special October events for spooky season, and Snowbird’s annual Oktoberfest features live music, family-friendly activities, traditional Bavarian food, and more than 50 varieties of beer for the grownups.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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According to the Federal Trade Commission, Bitcoin ATMs are machines that look like a traditional ATM and are often found at convenience stores, gas stations and other high-traffic areas.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The veteran safety, one of only two first-string defensive backs to start and finish the game Sunday, sat alone in his locker still draped in nearly all his game attire, minus the jersey and shoulder pads.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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The veteran forward brought his family to live with him in Miami and dedicated the second half of his summer to getting acclimated to the area.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And even though the military is short of manpower, the government refuses to draft ultra-orthodox men, whose religious political parties are key to the Netanyahu coalition.—
Ron Scherf,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
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Traditional music and Kolo dancing by Prazna Flasa Tambura, the Ansambl Sokoli, the Seoske Dame singers, and DJ Dex, with a presentation from Parish Priest, Father Milos Zivkovic on orthodox religious traditions and specialty vendors with music, books, jewelry, and icons for sale.—
Gina Grillo,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionary. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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