Reactionary Definition

rē-ăkshə-nĕrē
reactionaries
adjective
Of, characterized by, or advocating reaction, esp. in politics.
Webster's New World

Opposed to change; urging a return to a previous state.

Wiktionary

Very conservative.

Wiktionary
(chemistry) Of, pertaining to, participating in or inducing a chemical reaction.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun
reactionaries
A reactionary person; advocate of reaction, esp. in politics.
Webster's New World
An opponent of progress or liberalism; an extreme conservative.
American Heritage
One who is opposed to change.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Reactionary

Noun

Singular:
reactionary
Plural:
reactionaries

Origin of Reactionary

  • From French réactionnaire. Used in the time of the French revolution to refer to a person opposing the revolution; as in a person favoring a reaction to the revolution. First known usage in English in a translation of Lazare Carnot's letter on the Conspiracy of the 18th Fructidor published in London, 1799.

    From Wiktionary

Reactionary Sentence Examples

  • Under the Restoration he became a peer of France, but protested against the reactionary spirit of the government, and remained in opposition.

  • He was left in the hands of reactionary boyars and priests, who encouraged him to hate his father and wish for the death of the tsar-antichrist.

  • Now that he saw an opportunity to become master he became reactionary and abolished the federal constitution.

  • But the National Liberals triumphed at the general election; fear of reactionary tendencies finally induced the Radicals to accede to the wishes of the majority; and on the 5th of June 1849 the new constitution received the royal sanction.

  • He appeared there as the champion of the king and encouraged him in his reactionary policy.

More Sentences

Related Articles

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to reactionary using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

RREREA

Words Ending With

YRYARY

Unscrambles

reactionary

Words Starting With R and Ending With Y

Starts With R & Ends With YStarts With RE & Ends With YStarts With R & Ends With RY

Word Length

11 Letter Words11 Letter Words Starting With R11 Letter Words Ending With Y