reactionary

adjective

re·​ac·​tion·​ary rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce reactionary (audio)
: 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
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Many criticized and pushed back against the clip, which sparked a counter-reaction from reactionary content creators, who heralded the ad as a cultural victory. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025 But the new South Korean government will be less reactionary, said Koo, the Unification Ministry spokesperson. Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 July 2025 The First District, which also has turned sharply reactionary in recent years, took it on itself to approve the map, but the Supreme Court majority replaced its reasons with their own. Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2025 But when the program was cut in 1935, the funding gap offered reactionary Los Angeles politicians the opportunity to portray the migrants as a burden on already-strained resources. Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025 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 5 Aug. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on reactionary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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