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reactionary

reactionary

33 8.4
Against social or political change and wanting society to go back to how it was
  • adjective
  • /riˈækʃəˌnɛri/
translation icon : reaccionario
  • Currently, these reactionary forces have almost total domination of the Arab world.
  • reactionary policies
  • reactionary views
  • progressive and reactionary

So this is the thing too, like Antifa creates reactionary forces as well.

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Examples

  • The reactionary elements of this society will not soon recover.

  • Without the means to control market logic, they will be more and more tempted by reactionary solutions.

    Academic text (1993)
  • We find that to be, in the worst sense of the word, a reactionary way of thinking.

  • You go to European countries, the most reactionary political party will not say that Healthcare is not a human right.

  • Z is now becoming reactionary against gay marriage.

  • Perhaps it was the book's popularity that brought another wave of reactionary criticism.

    Academic text (1993)
  • After two days' detention, I have realized the reactionary nature of my crime.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I think it's another sign of the reactionary times that this insight has been downplayed.

    Blog text (7)
  • If you asked them for adjectives, my kids would add closed-minded and reactionary.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • He expressed reactionary views that favored traditional values over modern reforms.

Synonyms

die-hard
vsreactionary
22 7.9

Very unwilling to accept change or new ideas

also resists change but emphasizes restoring previous political or social states
far-right
vsreactionary
  • Literature
20 6.8

Having very strong right-wing political views that oppose social change

covers opposing reform broadly but not always the extreme political position
traditionalist
vsreactionary
6 6.5

Holding strongly to old customs and resisting change

adds an active desire to roll back reforms rather than just keep customs
regressive
vsreactionary
5 7.5

A return to an earlier, less advanced state that stops progress

focuses specifically on opposing progress by wanting to restore earlier states
unregenerate
vsreactionary
1 9.9

Refusing to change beliefs or show regret, even when wrong

shares stubborn resistance but has a political aim of restoring past systems
archconservative
vsreactionary
1 8.4

Very traditional in politics and strongly against change

shares resistance to change but emphasizes returning to earlier systems
reactionist
vsreactionary
9.9

Opposed to social or political change and wanting to return to older ways

has the same meaning but is the more common label for that stance
neo-reactionary
vsreactionary
  • Literature
9.9

A political movement that wants older social and government rules instead of modern liberal ideas

expresses the same opposition but in general personal or ideological terms
antirevolutionary
vsreactionary
7.4

Opposed to big, sudden political change

opposes change too but includes wanting to reverse reforms to older forms
antievolutionary
vsreactionary
8.4

Opposing slow change in society and its rules

goes further by actively favouring a return to earlier social conditions
dinosaurian
vsreactionary
  • Offensive
9.1

Very old-fashioned and against change

is similar but more directly aims to return society to earlier conditions
unprogressive
vsreactionary
7.7

Not willing to accept new ideas and slow to change

is alike in resisting change but specifically supports reversing recent social progress

Antonyms

651 3.9

A person who supports social change and people's rights

251 4.8

Supporting new social changes in politics to make society fairer

How Reactionary

reactionary
33 8.4
conservative
4.6
moderate
85 4.6
progressive
251 4.8

Surface Forms

reactionary positive

Morphology

reactionary = reaction (semi-transparent) = react + ion + ary

Formed regularly from 'reaction' + '-ary'; as an adjective it denotes relating to reaction, but the political/conservative sense is a specialized extension.

Etymology

To be reactionary uses the same parts: re- 'back' and act 'to do', like in react. It describes views or actions that push things back toward older ways. So, calling an idea reactionary means it opposes change and favours a return to the past.