reactive

[ ree-ak-tiv ]

adjective

1. tending to react.
2. pertaining to or characterized by reaction.
3. Electricity. pertaining to or characterized by reactance.

reactive

/ rɪˈæktɪv; ˌriːækˈtɪvɪtɪ /

adjective

1. readily partaking in chemical reactions

   free radicals are very reactive

   sodium is a reactive metal

2. of, concerned with, or having a reactance
3. responsive to stimulus
4. (of mental illnesses) precipitated by an external cause

   reactive depression

Derived Forms

• reˈactively, adverb
• reactivity, noun

Other Words From

• re·active·ly adverb
• re·active·ness noun
• anti·re·active adjective
• hyper·re·active adjective
• nonre·active adjective
• over·re·active adjective
• unre·active adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reactive¹

First recorded in 1705–15; react + -ive

Example Sentences

His fear that white Americans were being replaced by an army of invaders who must be repelled seemed to me symptoms of a reactive white supremacy, exacerbated by worries over scarcity brought on by the radically changing environment.

From Salon

"Locking these kids up is just a reactive way to go about it," says Darren Damaso, a youth leader for Brother 2 Another.

From BBC

Burgos said that, for her, abolition means moving away from “reactive” law enforcement responses and toward expanded social services, such as job training, job placements and mental health care.

From Los Angeles Times

By bonding, the medicine transforms the reactive metals into benign molecules that have little interest in interacting with different compounds in the body.

From Los Angeles Times

“What is clear is that both Israel and Iran are in reactive mode and the terms and conditions of their long adversarial relationship have been redefined,” Vakil said on the social media platform X. “Without guardrails, red lines or a strategy to de-escalate, further conflict remains in the cards.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conscious
• delicate
• emotional
• hypersensitive
• keen
• nervous
• perceptive
• precise
• receptive
• responsive
• susceptible
• tense
• touchy
• tricky
• unstable