reactionary
Wants the past
Reactionary describes opposition to social or political progress, favoring a return to earlier conditions.
The term implies not just conservatism but active resistance to reform: reactionary policies, reactionary forces in the government.
As a noun, a reactionary is someone who holds such views.
The word carries negative connotations, typically used by critics rather than self-description.
Stubbornly committed supporter
- hardlinerStrict policy advocate
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- inflexibleUnable to bend
rigid · entrenched · dogmatic · zealot · ideologue · extremist · fundamentalist · purist
Founded organization or venue
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
- conventionalFollowing accepted practices
- conformistOne following accepted norms
- institutionalistAdvocate of formal structures
preservationist · continuity · stability · inertia · stagnation · unchanging · static · entrenched
Cautious about altering customs
- rightwingConservative political stance
- ultraconservativeExtremely resistant to change
- paleoconservativeTraditional, isolationist American rightist
- traditionalistAdherent to established customs
counterrevolutionary · regressive · retrograde · revanchist · restorationist · monarchist · far-right · authoritarian
Strong negative reaction
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- countermovementOrganized opposition to change
- pushbackResistance to something proposed
- retrenchmentReduction of expenditures
rollback · reversal · counterreaction · blowback · repudiation · rejection · antireform · obstruction
Longing for the past
- backward-lookingOriented toward the past
- antiquarianScholar of old artifacts
- romanticistDevotee of emotion-driven art
- restorationistOne who returns things to original condition
revivalist · pastoral · atavistic · anachronistic · old-fashioned · retro · vintage · patrimony
diehard
Stubbornly committed supporter
- hardlinerStrict policy advocate
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
inflexible · rigid · entrenched · dogmatic · zealot · ideologue · extremist · fundamentalist · purist · absolutist
establishment
Founded organization or venue
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
- conventionalFollowing accepted practices
- conformistOne following accepted norms
institutionalist · preservationist · continuity · stability · inertia · stagnation · unchanging · static · entrenched · defender
conservative
Cautious about altering customs
- rightwingConservative political stance
- ultraconservativeExtremely resistant to change
- paleoconservativeTraditional, isolationist American rightist
traditionalist · counterrevolutionary · regressive · retrograde · revanchist · restorationist · monarchist · far-right · authoritarian · nativist
backlash
Strong negative reaction
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- countermovementOrganized opposition to change
- pushbackResistance to something proposed
retrenchment · rollback · reversal · counterreaction · blowback · repudiation · rejection · antireform · obstruction · stonewalling
nostalgic
Longing for the past
- backward-lookingOriented toward the past
- antiquarianScholar of old artifacts
- romanticistDevotee of emotion-driven art
restorationist · revivalist · pastoral · atavistic · anachronistic · old-fashioned · retro · vintage · patrimony · heritage
- politicalconservative, liberal, moderate, centrist, leftist
- Communist ChinaCommunist Party, People's Republic, Great Leap Forward, Gang of Four, Central Committee
- political labelsliberal, conservative, leftist, rightist, moderate
- political typesconservative, liberal, moderate, leftist, rightist
- Right Wingconservatism, GOP, Republicans, Republican Party, far right
- anti-modernismLuddism, Luddite, technophobia, technophobe, anti-technology
reactionaryprogressive
Favoring reform and innovation
radical · leftist · revolutionary · left-winger · liberal
reactionaryprogressive
Favoring reform and innovation
forward-thinking · reformist · modernizer · forward-looking · revolutionary
reactionaryopen-minded
Receptive to different ideas
broad-minded · large-minded · unconventional · nonconventional · unorthodox