Synonyms for

Reactionary

Noun / ri:ˈækʃʌˌneri: / Another word for reactionary — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A person who is opposed to political or social change and wants to return to the way things were in the past.

Synonyms & similar words

reactionist ultraconservative conservative traditionalist diehard old-fashioned unprogressive orthodox right-wing authoritarian regressive retrogressive ultraconservative anti-progressive counter-revolutionary paleoconservative reactionist conservator stick-in-the-mud conventionalist dinosaur bitter-ender

Synonyms by register

Formal

conservative traditionalist right-wing orthodox

Informal

old-fashioned stuck-in-the-past backwards

Literary

reactionary spirit die-hard

Antonyms

progressive liberal radical forward-thinking modernist reformist

Common collocations

  • reactionary policies
  • reactionary movement
  • reactionary ideas
  • reactionary forces
  • reactionary element
  • reactionary government
  • reactionary views

Word family

noun reactionary
adjective reactionary

Usage note

Often used to describe political or social views that oppose change and favor a return to a previous state. It carries a negative connotation for those who advocate for progress.

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Example sentences

  1. The reactionary politician promised to take the country back to the way it was in the 1950s.
  2. My grandfather is a reactionary who believes that everything was better in the old days.
  3. The reactionary group protested against any changes to the school curriculum.
  4. Some people view the church as a reactionary institution that is resistant to change.
  5. The company's reactionary policies prevented it from adapting to the changing market.

Quotes

  • The reactionary is always willing to take a progressive attitude on any issue that is dead.
  • The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.
  • The reactionary is always willing to take a progressive attitude on any issue that is dead.

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