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.
Teams take pride in removing emotion from decisions and loathe making moves that can be interpreted as reactionary. Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 This reactionary strategy keeps companies mired in the past, unable to leverage real-time analytics, artificial intelligence and automation. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Vitamin C + Collagen packets $37 $31 at Amazon Being a safe and smart solo traveler means looking after my entire well-being in a preventative way, not just a reactionary way. Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2025 In the realm of finance, this means that positive emotions encourage strategic long-term financial planning, while negative emotions push individuals toward short-term, reactionary spending habits. Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 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 20 Apr. 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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