reactionary
adjective
re·ac·tion·ary
rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē 
: relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction
especially
: ultraconservative in politics
reactionary
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
By the end of the 1970s, the band and movemenet were losing goodwill, loathed by both the hip disco cognoscenti and a reactionary macho counterinsurgence that culminated in the vinyl furnace at Disco Demolition Night in Chicago.
—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
1 July 2026
However, the team isn’t presenting Sentnor as a reactionary move to Straus’ departure.
—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
19 June 2026
Only within the logic of an authoritarian or deeply reactionary culture can justice and beauty become controversial aims.
—
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Garrett says the new protocols acknowledge that academic institutions have the responsibility to take steps for the safety of their researchers and protect them from potentially dangerous interactions with conspiracy theorists and other reactionary zealots.
—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
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Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
1 July 2026
However, the team isn’t presenting Sentnor as a reactionary move to Straus’ departure.
—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
19 June 2026
Only within the logic of an authoritarian or deeply reactionary culture can justice and beauty become controversial aims.
—
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Garrett says the new protocols acknowledge that academic institutions have the responsibility to take steps for the safety of their researchers and protect them from potentially dangerous interactions with conspiracy theorists and other reactionary zealots.
—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for reactionary
Cite this Entry
“Reactionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactionary. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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