reactionary

adjective

re·​ac·​tion·​ary rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē 

: relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction

especially : ultraconservative in politics

reactionary noun

reactionaryism

rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē-ˌi-zəm 

noun

Synonyms

• archconservative
• brassbound
• button-down
• buttoned-down
• conservative
• die-hard
• hidebound
• mossbacked
• old-fashioned
• old-line
• old-school
• orthodox
• paleoconservative
• standpat
• traditional
• traditionalistic
• ultraconservative
• unprogressive

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

These are readers of the reactionary right tradition that comes out of Europe. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 18 June 2024

Others promote particular political aims, reactionary as well as revolutionary. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024

Zoning codes are designed to protect people, but enforcement can be 'reactionary,' experts say City zoning laws were designed to prevent land in the same area from being used for conflicting reasons, such as a factory being built right next to a neighborhood, according to urban planning experts. —Claire Thornton, The Enquirer, 12 June 2024

For now, at least, many of Thomas’s most reactionary opinions remain pipe dreams, but he’s successfully persuaded much of the Republican legal establishment to carry his banner. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 10 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

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