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reactionary

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /riˈækʃəˌnɛri/ · UK /riˈækʃənəri/

reactionary means: Opposing social or political change and wanting society to return to how it was in the past.

adjective

OPPOSING SOCIAL CHANGEC1

Opposing social or political change and wanting society to return to how it was in the past.

  • He has reactionary views on education.
  • The reactionary government reversed several social reforms.
  • Critics called the new policy reactionary.

Similar words: ultraconservative

Opposites: progressive

Common phrases: reactionary views, reactionary government, reactionary politics

IN RESPONSEC2

Done or happening as a response to something else.

  • The price cut was a reactionary response to falling sales.
  • Their reactionary decision followed a wave of complaints.
  • The changes were largely reactionary.

Similar words: reactive, responsive

Opposites: proactive

Common phrases: reactionary response, reactionary decision

CHEMICAL REACTIONC2

Relating to or causing a chemical change when substances interact.

  • The study examined the mixture’s reactionary effects.
  • Heat increased the reactionary activity of the compound.
  • They measured temperature during the reactionary process.

Common phrases: reactionary process, reactionary effect

noun

OPPONENT OF CHANGEC1

Someone who opposes social or political change and wants to return to past ways.

  • They called him a reactionary.
  • The reactionaries opposed the new voting rights.
  • She dismissed her critics as reactionaries who feared change.

Similar words: ultraconservative

Opposites: progressive

Common phrases: political reactionary, staunch reactionary

Questions about reactionary

What does reactionary mean?

Opposing social or political change and wanting society to return to how it was in the past.

What is reactionary in other languages?

Türkçe: gerici · Español: reaccionario · Français: réactionnaire · Deutsch: reaktionär · Italiano: reazionario · 日本語: 反動的な

How do you pronounce reactionary?

In American English /riˈækʃəˌnɛri/; in British English /riˈækʃənəri/.

How do you use reactionary in a sentence?

He has reactionary views on education. The reactionary government reversed several social reforms.

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reactionary in other languages

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