reactionary — opposing political or social progress or reform; characterized by reaction, especially extreme conservatism
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: opposing political or social progress or reform; characterized by reaction, especially extreme conservatism
Pronunciation (IPA): /riˈækʃəˌneri/
Example Sentences
- My grandfather's reactionary views made family dinners quite awkward when politics came up.
- The reactionary group wanted to bring back the 'good old days' when smartphones didn't exist.
- Her reactionary response to the new company policy surprised everyone in the meeting.
reactionary
ADJECTIVE[/riˈækʃəˌneri/]
opposing political or social progress or reform; characterized by reaction, especially extreme conservatism
The reactionary noble demands the old monarchy be restored, rejecting every new reform.
The reactionary blocks what's revolutionary, ignoring what's evolutionary
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From the word 'reaction' (from Latin 'reactio', meaning action in response) combined with the suffix '-ary' (meaning 'relating to' or 'characterized by'). The term emerged in the late 18th century to describe those who opposed progressive reforms.
Breakdown
re- (again/back) + act (do/move) + -ion (noun suffix) + -ary (relating to) = reactionary (one who reacts against progress)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandfather's reactionary views made family dinners quite awkward when politics came up.”
“The reactionary group wanted to bring back the 'good old days' when smartphones didn't exist.”
“Her reactionary response to the new company policy surprised everyone in the meeting.”
“The professor called him a reactionary for insisting that students should still use typewriters instead of computers.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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