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 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
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.
The 17% reduction in workforce serves as a structural realignment rather than a reactionary cost-cutting initiative. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 The reactionary blogger’s call for a monarch to rule the country once seemed like a joke. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 May 2026 No Supreme Court decision, no matter how reactionary or ill-reasoned, will ever extinguish the desire of Black Americans to be free and equal. Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026 Amplifying concerns over Bolloré’s ideological agenda is the presence of CNews, France’s equivalent to Fox News which has, over the years, given a mainstream platform to reactionary, far right voices, within Canal+ Group. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 May 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

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Cite this Entry

“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactionary. Accessed 28 May. 2026.

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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