REACTION Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

reaction

noun

rē-ˈak-shən

Definition of reaction

as in response

action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior we were startled by her extreme reaction to being jilted by her boyfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of reaction Officials in New Jersey sparked mixed reactions after voting to pave the way for the redevelopment of a former iconic amusement park. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 Livano Comenencia’s equalizer and Dick Advocaat’s emotional reaction were great but this was a muscle flex if there ever was one. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026 This unwanted movement, known as the polysulfide shuttle effect, causes active material loss, side reactions, self-discharge, and rapid capacity degradation. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026 The material can power reactions such as oxidizing organic molecules, potentially degrading pollutants, sterilizing surfaces, or enabling photocatalytic chemistry to continue later in the dark. — New Atlas, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reaction

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reaction

Noun

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Justice Department seeking clarification about an apparent discrepancy in its announcement regarding the age of one of the alleged trafficking victims and will update this story if a response is received.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Their desperation comes as the Venezuelan government faces mounting criticism over its response to the crisis.

— Isa Soares, CNN Money, 1 July 2026