Reactionary
adjective
Someone who is against political or social progress or reform.
His views were seen as reactionary by the progressive members of the politics club.
Often appears as...
- reactionary forces
- reactionary politics
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who opposes political or social progress or reform.
She was labeled as a reactionary for refusing to accept the new policy changes.
Often appears as...
- a reactionary
- political reactionary
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Someone who is against political or social progress or reform.
His views were seen as reactionary by the progressive members of the politics club.
Often appears as...
- reactionary forces
- reactionary politics
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who opposes political or social progress or reform.
She was labeled as a reactionary for refusing to accept the new policy changes.
Often appears as...
- a reactionary
- political reactionary
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The term ‘reactionary’ often implies disapproval and resistance to change.
The mayor's reactionary response to the new housing policy sparked controversy.
Pro Tip 2/3Political Context
Reactionary is commonly used in discussions of politics to describe extreme conservative attitudes.
The candidate's reactionary platform appealed to a very small base.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Differences
'Reactionary' can be seen differently in various cultures, often depending on political history.
In a country with a history of revolution, 'reactionary' might be a serious accusation.
Compare with
conservativeextremistregressiveretrogressivetraditional
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Video examples
Saving Albatross Chicks...
conservation worked has to be reactionary in nature people identify a problem or a threat and try to do something about it and that's understandable and in most cases that's that's required but there are some threats that we know about already we know it's going to be a problem and I think it's important to try to be
Video examples
Faith versus tradition...
and they're reacting in reactionary ways there was one country though which was able to escape or stay away from that vicious cycle and that's the country where coming from it that's that's Turkey turkey has never been colonized so it remained as an independent nation
Video examples
The biggest risks facing...
they're cosmopolitan, they're sexy. They're the perfect antidote to reactionary nationalism. But cities have a dark side. They take up just three percent of the world's surface area,
Video examples
Saving Albatross Chicks...
conservation worked has to be reactionary in nature people identify a problem or a threat and try to do something about it and that's understandable and in most cases that's that's required but there are some threats that we know about already we know it's going to be a problem and I think it's important to try to be
Video examples
Faith versus tradition...
and they're reacting in reactionary ways there was one country though which was able to escape or stay away from that vicious cycle and that's the country where coming from it that's that's Turkey turkey has never been colonized so it remained as an independent nation
Video examples
The biggest risks facing...
they're cosmopolitan, they're sexy. They're the perfect antidote to reactionary nationalism. But cities have a dark side. They take up just three percent of the world's surface area,
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Fred Hampton
American Activist
We ain't gonna fight no reactionary pigs who run up and down the street being reactionary; we're gonna organize and dedicate ourselves to revolutionary political power and teach ourselves the specific needs of resisting the power structure, arm ourselves, and we're gonna fight reactionary pigs with international proletarian revolution.
Quote examples
Fidel Castro
Statesman
Reactionaries often describe both Marx and Lenin as theorists, without taking into consideration that their utopias inspired Russia and China - the two countries called upon to lead a new world which will allow for human survival if imperialism does not first unleash a criminal, exterminating war.
Quote examples
Martin Luther King, Jr.
American Leader
The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility.
Quote examples
Henry Cabot Lodge
American Politician
You may call me selfish if you will, conservative or reactionary, or use any other harsh adjective you see fit to apply, but an American I was born, an American I have remained all my life.
Quote examples
Bruce Davison
American Actor
I think tolerance is something everybody needs to be reminded of, especially in a reactionary political world. Well, actually, I should say, a reactionary political climate.
Quote examples
Jim Nantz
American Entertainer
I never practice calls. Everything you hear is reactionary. The way I look at it is that broadcasters are just paid observers, just there to tell you what we see.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The neo-cons constitute a radical reactionary fringe of the planning spectrum, but the spectrum is narrow.
Quote examples
Anthony Scaramucci
American Businessman
America has always accomplished far more acting as courageous frontiersmen than weak reactionaries.
Quote examples
Theodore Roosevelt
American President
The reactionary is always willing to take a progressive attitude on any issue that is dead.
Quote examples
Mao Zedong
Chinese Leader
All reactionaries are paper tigers.
Quote examples
Fred Hampton
American Activist
We ain't gonna fight no reactionary pigs who run up and down the street being reactionary; we're gonna organize and dedicate ourselves to revolutionary political power and teach ourselves the specific needs of resisting the power structure, arm ourselves, and we're gonna fight reactionary pigs with international proletarian revolution.
Quote examples
Fidel Castro
Statesman
Reactionaries often describe both Marx and Lenin as theorists, without taking into consideration that their utopias inspired Russia and China - the two countries called upon to lead a new world which will allow for human survival if imperialism does not first unleash a criminal, exterminating war.
Quote examples
Martin Luther King, Jr.
American Leader
The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility.
Quote examples
Henry Cabot Lodge
American Politician
You may call me selfish if you will, conservative or reactionary, or use any other harsh adjective you see fit to apply, but an American I was born, an American I have remained all my life.
Quote examples
Bruce Davison
American Actor
I think tolerance is something everybody needs to be reminded of, especially in a reactionary political world. Well, actually, I should say, a reactionary political climate.
Quote examples
Jim Nantz
American Entertainer
I never practice calls. Everything you hear is reactionary. The way I look at it is that broadcasters are just paid observers, just there to tell you what we see.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The neo-cons constitute a radical reactionary fringe of the planning spectrum, but the spectrum is narrow.
Quote examples
Anthony Scaramucci
American Businessman
America has always accomplished far more acting as courageous frontiersmen than weak reactionaries.
Quote examples
Theodore Roosevelt
American President
The reactionary is always willing to take a progressive attitude on any issue that is dead.
Quote examples
Mao Zedong
Chinese Leader
All reactionaries are paper tigers.
Example 1 of 10
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