Reactionary: meaning, definitions and examples

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reactionary

 

[ rɪˈækʃəˌnɛri ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

politics

Opposing political or social progress or reform; ultraconservative.

Synonyms

conservative, traditionalist, ultraconservative

Examples of usage

  • His reactionary views on immigration are not in line with the current policies.
  • The party is split between progressive members and reactionary traditionalists.
  • The reactionary faction has been gaining influence within the government.
  • She criticized the reactionary attitudes towards gender equality in the workplace.
Context #2 | Noun

politics

A person who holds political views that favor a return to the status quo or a previous state of society.

Synonyms

conservative, traditionalist, ultraconservative

Examples of usage

  • The leader of the opposition party is considered a reactionary by many.
  • His reputation as a reactionary precedes him in the political arena.
  • The group is comprised of both radicals and reactionaries.
  • Many view him as a reactionary due to his opposition to social reforms.

Translations

Translations of the word "reactionary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reacionário

🇮🇳 प्रतिक्रियावादी

🇩🇪 reaktionär

🇮🇩 reaksioner

🇺🇦 реакційний

🇵🇱 reakcyjny

🇯🇵 反動的 (はんどうてき)

🇫🇷 réactionnaire

🇪🇸 reaccionario

🇹🇷 gerici

🇰🇷 반동적인 (반동적)

🇸🇦 رجعي

🇨🇿 reakční

🇸🇰 reakčný

🇨🇳 反动 (fǎndòng)

🇸🇮 reakcionaren

🇮🇸 afturhaldssamur

🇰🇿 реакциялық

🇬🇪 რეაქციონერი

🇦🇿 reaksioner

🇲🇽 reaccionario

Etymology

The term 'reactionary' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the word 'reaction' with the suffix '-ary'. It was initially used in a political context to describe those who were opposed to liberal or progressive ideas, seeking to return to a previous state of society. The term has evolved to encompass a broader meaning of opposing social or political change, often associated with conservative or ultraconservative views.

See also: reactionism.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,671, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.