All 3 Uses of
reactionary
in
The Fountainhead
- He exhibited sounder judgment in matters of architectural merit than Mr. Austen Heller, the outmoded reactionary who has suddenly turned art critic.†
Chpt 4.1 *
- But that filthy reactionary rag is sure going downhill.†
Chpt 4.6
- G W The New Frontiers described Austen Heller as "A reactionary who has sold himself to Big Business."†
Chpt 4.15
Definitions:
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(1)
(reactionary) someone who is extremely opposed to change; or relating to such a viewpointReactionary is most often used by people who are eager for political or social change to describe people or ideas that they consider exceedingly conservative. People can be referred to as reactionaries or as having reactionary responses. The implication is that such people do not think about what is best. Instead they instinctively react in opposition to any change.
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Less commonly, reactionary can just refer to something that changes in response to what happens--such as a chemical.