reactive
Quick to respond
Reactive describes something that responds to a stimulus rather than initiating action on its own.
A reactive person waits for events to unfold before responding, in contrast to a proactive one who anticipates and acts first.
In chemistry, reactive substances readily undergo chemical reactions when exposed to other materials.
The term often carries a slightly negative connotation in management contexts, suggesting inadequate planning: The company's reactive approach to customer complaints cost them business.
Reactive can also describe medical or psychological responses: She tested reactive for antibodies.
Protective or easily threatened
- triggeredCaused to activate
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- overreactiveResponding beyond what's warranted
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
volatile · temperamental · touchy · hypersensitive · knee-jerk · hotheaded · thin-skinned · irritable
Substance prompting chemical change
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- catalystAgent enabling change
- compoundCombined into one
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
bonding · inert · combustion · corrosive · exothermic · synthesis · volatile · oxidizer
Quick to react
- adaptiveAble to change accordingly
- passiveNot actively participating
- anticipatoryFeeling or showing expectation
- preventiveMeant to stop trouble
defensive · firefighting · wait-and-see · hindsight · backward-looking · remedial · corrective · afterthought
Adversely reactive to substances
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- histamineAllergy-response compound
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- anaphylaxisSevere systemic allergic reaction
hypersensitivity · antibody · immune · rash · swelling · hives · intolerance · autoimmune
Not happening together
- streamSteady continuous flow
- observableCapable of being detected
- subscriberOne who enrolls regularly
- event-drivenTriggered by occurrences
callback · publisher · real-time · listener · signal · state · hooks · propagation
defensive
Protective or easily threatened
- triggeredCaused to activate
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- overreactiveResponding beyond what's warranted
sensitive · volatile · temperamental · touchy · hypersensitive · knee-jerk · hotheaded · thin-skinned · irritable · emotional
reagent
Substance prompting chemical change
substrate · bonding · inert · combustion · corrosive · exothermic · synthesis · volatile · oxidizer · reduction
responsive
Quick to react
- adaptiveAble to change accordingly
- passiveNot actively participating
- anticipatoryFeeling or showing expectation
preventive · defensive · firefighting · wait-and-see · hindsight · backward-looking · remedial · corrective · afterthought · delayed
allergic
Adversely reactive to substances
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- histamineAllergy-response compound
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
anaphylaxis · hypersensitivity · antibody · immune · rash · swelling · hives · intolerance · autoimmune · antigen
asynchronous
Not happening together
- streamSteady continuous flow
- observableCapable of being detected
- subscriberOne who enrolls regularly
event-driven · callback · publisher · real-time · listener · signal · state · hooks · propagation · subscription
- emotionaldramatic, hysterical, weepy, tearful, melodramatic
- Chemical PropertiespH, acidity, alkalinity, solubility, viscosity
- playstylesaggressive, defensive, passive, casual, competitive
- work stylescollaborative, hierarchical, agile, flexible, structured
- reactiveexcitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy, jittery
- agilityagile, nimble, quick, lithe, spry
reactiveproactive
Acting before problems arise
anticipatory · preemptive · forward-thinking · preventive · strategic
reactiveinert
Inactive, physically or chemically
unreactive · noble · stable · nonreactive · inactive
reactivestoic
Uncomplaining endurer of hardship
phlegmatic · unflappable · impassive · composed · even-tempered
- 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, reacting, reactive armor, reactionary, reactions, reactivate, reactivity, reactivation, unreactive