reactionary

American  

[ree-ak-shuh-ner-ee] / riˈæk ʃəˌnɛr i /

Sometimes reactionist

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, marked by, or favoring reaction, especially extreme conservatism or rightism in politics; opposing political or social change.

   Synonyms:

   ultraconservative

   Antonyms:

   radical

---

noun

plural

reactionaries

1. a reactionary person.

   Synonyms:

   ultraconservative

   Antonyms:

   radical

reactionary British  

/ -ʃənrɪ, rɪˈækʃənərɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by reaction, esp against radical political or social change

---

noun

1. a person opposed to radical change

reactionary Cultural  

1. An extremely conservative person or position that not only resists change but seeks to return to the “good old days” of an earlier social order.

---

Other Word Forms

• antireactionary noun
• half-reactionary adjective
• nonreactionary adjective
• reactionarism noun
• reactionaryism noun
• reactionism noun
• semireactionary adjective
• unreactionary adjective

Etymology

Origin of reactionary

1830–40; reaction + -ary; compare French réactionnaire

Example Sentences

That’s not because he was a right-winger; Clint Eastwood, still as reactionary as ever, retains the respect of his more liberal peers for his consistently high-quality output.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

"The Grammys are more reactionary than anything else," said Kehrer.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Reflecting on how the works came together over 14 years, he said it was "very reactionary" and speaks of "instability in the world".

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

It might be granted that a reactionary is not a conservative’s identical twin — but he is a sibling living under the same roof.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

You have to be actionary, rather than reactionary.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• archconservative
• counterrevolutionary
• regressive
• rightist
• ultraconservative