reactionary

adjective

re·​ac·​tion·​ary rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce reactionary (audio)
Synonyms of reactionarynext
: relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction
especially : ultraconservative in politics
reactionary noun
reactionaryism
rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce reactionary (audio)
noun

Synonyms of reactionary

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Examples of reactionary in a Sentence

reactionary guardians of proper English usage invariably regard every new coinage that comes along as a nonword
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
While this may all sound a bit reactionary or like shooting fish in a barrel, Mungiu wisely complicates matters. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Once upon a time, the idea that the world was growing stupider was mostly confined to the realm of dyspeptic reactionary polemic. — James Marriott, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Beijing is also actively steering China toward a reactionary version of itself that will worsen its demographic woes rather than help address them. — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026 My perspective and approach has been to try and be as measured as possible and not be as reactionary. — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reactionary

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reactionary was in 1815

Rhymes for reactionary

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Browse Nearby Words

reactionarist
reactionary
reactionaryism
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Cite this Entry

“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactionary. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

reactionary

1 of 2 adjective
re·​ac·​tion·​ary
rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē
: of, relating to, or favoring old-fashioned political or social ideas

reactionary

2 of 2 noun
plural reactionaries
: a reactionary person
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