reactionary
adjective
re·ac·tion·ary
rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē 
: relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction
especially
: ultraconservative in politics
reactionary
noun
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
Hugo returned to a hero’s welcome, and to the establishment of the Third Republic, which lionized him until it, too, was at last destroyed by the same forces of reactionary authoritarianism, in new uniforms, in 1940.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
While the reactionary right offered the most frothing anti-gay rhetoric, much of the anti-gay policymaking happened under a Democrat, Bill Clinton.
—Lucas Schaefer
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Investors may also be simply exhausted and no longer as reactionary to these headlines after more than a year of conflict in the Middle East, and the even longer Russia-Ukraine war.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 13 June 2025
DeHaven believes that the key lies in shifting away from reactionary financial relief and toward trade liberalization.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
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Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
While the reactionary right offered the most frothing anti-gay rhetoric, much of the anti-gay policymaking happened under a Democrat, Bill Clinton.
—Lucas Schaefer
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
Investors may also be simply exhausted and no longer as reactionary to these headlines after more than a year of conflict in the Middle East, and the even longer Russia-Ukraine war.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 13 June 2025
DeHaven believes that the key lies in shifting away from reactionary financial relief and toward trade liberalization.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactionary. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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