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
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 real challenge is whether leadership is willing to preemptively invest in governance protocols before the need becomes reactionary. Manish Gupta, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 Never mind the French Revolution, the bête noire of reactionary thinkers: Moldbug believed that the English and American Revolutions had gone too far. Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 The industry’s resolve is very much to its credit, confirmation of its status as a bastion of liberal opinion in which reactionary sentiment, though doubtless lurking, is generally considered gauche. Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025 But creating social conditions that are conducive to motherhood doesn’t have to be part of a reactionary agenda. Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 23 May 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 7 Jun. 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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