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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reactionary
Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
They are considered standard-bearers of progressive or liberal politics on their respective continents, where reactionary parties and far-right populism have been on the rise for years.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 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
While not purely reactionary, the Islamic Republic’s strategy signals that escalation faces escalation.
—Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
They are considered standard-bearers of progressive or liberal politics on their respective continents, where reactionary parties and far-right populism have been on the rise for years.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 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
-
He's found success as a media personality by posting news and conservative political commentary, which has espoused various conspiracy theories.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Kennedy’s comments come as Medicaid home-care programs — which have long garnered bipartisan support as a cost-effective alternative to nursing homes and other institutions — face growing scrutiny from conservative policymakers and activists who have framed them as magnets for fraud and waste.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Patriots had a busy offseason, adding top free agents wide receiver Romeo Doubs, safety Kevin Byard, edge defender Dre’Mont Jones and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, among other veterans.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And didn’t veteran NFL draft analysts such as the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, the former Eagles, Ravens and Browns scout from El Cajon, and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler place Simpson at 37th and 41st on their top-50 lists?—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Crypto apps like Coinbase have begun to diversify into non-crypto assets, and more traditional retail finance apps like Robinhood have begun to dip their toes into areas like tokenized stocks.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
People are in the right conditions, so meetings are more meaningful than in a traditional market where everything is back-to-back.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the nineteen-seventies, Franciscan University, a small school on a hill above the downtown, became a center for charismatic Catholicism, an expressive, theologically orthodox movement that paralleled the development of the evangelical Jesus People and secular hippie culture.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Dioceses across the country are reporting the highest amount of converts in decades, many of them drawn in by orthodox Catholic influencers.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionary. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
