reacting
Answering a stimulus
Reacting is responding to something—a stimulus, event, or situation.
The word implies that something external prompted the response: She was just reacting to what he said.
In chemistry, substances react when they undergo chemical change through interaction.
Someone who is reacting rather than acting is responding to circumstances rather than initiating them.
Giving a reaction
- replyingGiving an answer back
- answeringProviding a response
- counteringActing in opposition
- retaliatingAnswering harm with harm
reciprocating · feedback · response · engagement · acknowledgment · comeback · rejoinder · retort
Acting without deliberation
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- automaticOperating without intervention
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- reflexiveDirected back at subject
gut · unthinking · involuntary · snap · visceral · immediate · hasty · rash
Proteins targeting pathogens
- allergyAdverse immune response
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- histamineAllergy-response compound
- inflammationProtective tissue response
anaphylaxis · immunity · autoimmune · hypersensitivity · allergen · reflex · flinch · recoil
Substance prompting chemical change
- catalystAgent enabling change
- compoundCombined into one
- solutionAnswer or liquid mixture
- precipitateHeadlong and reckless
oxidation · synthesis · combustion · neutralization · bonding · substrate · product · molecule
Emotional responses experienced internally
- outburstSudden emotional release
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- fearEmotional response to threat
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
frustration · anxiety · defensiveness · shock · overreacting · sensitivity · triggered · upset
responding
Giving a reaction
- replyingGiving an answer back
- answeringProviding a response
- counteringActing in opposition
retaliating · reciprocating · feedback · response · engagement · acknowledgment · comeback · rejoinder · retort · parry
impulsive
Acting without deliberation
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- automaticOperating without intervention
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
reflexive · gut · unthinking · involuntary · snap · visceral · immediate · hasty · rash · unrehearsed
antibodies
Proteins targeting pathogens
- allergyAdverse immune response
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- histamineAllergy-response compound
inflammation · anaphylaxis · immunity · autoimmune · hypersensitivity · allergen · reflex · flinch · recoil · startle
reagent
Substance prompting chemical change
precipitate · oxidation · synthesis · combustion · neutralization · bonding · substrate · product · molecule · ion
feelings
Emotional responses experienced internally
surprise · frustration · anxiety · defensiveness · shock · overreacting · sensitivity · triggered · upset · distress
- actingacting, act, performing, playacting, actor
- performingperform, sing, play, act, dance
- responsesresponse, answering, answer, reply, replying
- netiquetteread receipts, ghosting, emoji use, typing indicator, privacy settings
- mental agilityquick wit, mental flexibility, sharp mind, quick-witted, sharp-witted
- adjustingtuning, readjusting, calibrating, tweaking, modifying
reactingignoring
Deliberately not noticing
disregarding · not responding · overlooking · tuning out · unresponsive
reactinginitiating
Causing to start
acting · taking the initiative · instigating · causing · leading
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- reaction speedSwiftness of response
- allergic reactionImmune system's hostile response
- gut reactionImmediate unthinking feeling
- reaction timeSpeed of response
- knee-jerk reactionInstinctive, unconsidered response
reaction, reactionary, reactions, reactive, reactivity, overreaction, unreactive, nonreactive, underreaction