1
as in conservatives
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fogeys
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reactionaries
Khomeini was simultaneously the agent of Communists and of reactionaries, the editorial charged.
—
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactionaries
Noun
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But concerns about free expression are not limited to conservatives.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
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Kirk’s rise from a suburban Chicago teenager to the face of the Republican Party’s youth wing reshaped the political landscape and energized a new generation of conservatives.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That includes rules on supplier diversity and a state law requiring annual reports on hiring of women, minorities, disabled veterans, and LGBTQ+ individuals.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, Al Horford and the rest of the veterans in Golden State's waiting room are quietly pleading for clarity.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reactionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactionaries. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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