reactionary

Meaning

Adj

1. Extremely conservative; opposing revolution (such as the French Revolution); favoring a return to a golden age of the past.
2. Of, pertaining to, participating in, or inducing a chemical reaction.
3. In reaction to; as a result of.

Noun

One who opposes revolution, wanting to reverse it, favoring a return to a past golden age. Often used as a derogatory by revolutionaires.

Opposite of

progressive, nonreactionary

Synonyms

conservative

reactionist

retrograde

ultraconservative

die-hard

right-wing

extreme right-winger

far-right

reactive

reaction

reacting

reactor

repercussion

response

retrogressive

rightist

right-winger

unreconstructed

unregenerate

ultraconservative.

pro-family

backward

retrograde person

blimpish

bourbon

diehard

echo

feedback

hunker

mossback

obscurantist

react

Translations

reaccionario

réactionnaire

reazionario

reaccionari

reacionário

codino

reactionair

reaktionär

codina

αντιδραστικός

Reaktionär

retrogrado

rétrograde

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹiˈækʃən(ə)ɹi/

Etymology

From French réactionnaire. Used in the time of the French revolution to refer to a person opposing the revolution; as in favoring a reaction against the revolution.