Synonyms for reactionary
- adjective
- noun
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Regressive — extremely conservative; opposing revolution (such as the French Revolution); favoring a return to a "golden…
2. Reactionist
Other
Noun
retrograde, mossback informal US, reactionarist, mossyback informal US
Definitions
- adj. 1
Extremely conservative; opposing revolution (such as the French Revolution); favoring a return to a "golden age" of the past.
- adj. 2
Of, pertaining to, participating in, or inducing a chemical reaction.
- n. 1
One who opposes revolution, wanting to reverse it, favoring a return to a past golden age, often used derogatorily by revolutionaires.
Related words
- Word family
- reactionaryism
Forms
- Plural
- reactionaries → retrogrades, mossbacks, reactionarists, mossybacks…
Example sentences
- regressive A tariff is a regressive tax on consumers.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| reactionary | falling | |
| regressive | falling | |
| antiprogressive | steady | |
| reactionist | falling | |
| antimodern | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- right1
- 8 letters
- mossback
- 9 letters
- mossyback
- 10 letters
- retrograde3, regressive3, antimodern
- 11 letters
- reactionist
- 13 letters
- reactionarist
- 15 letters
- antiprogressive
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (retrograde3 = 3 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- réactionnaire
- Español
- reaccionario
- Català
- reaccionari