as in spontaneous
done in immediate response to something especially without thinking or planning
He realized his aggressive response to their criticisms had been reactive. The board stressed the need for a less reactive and more proactive approach to problem-solving.
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Recent Examples of reactive
This could lead to a child being more emotionally driven or reactive.
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Hatty Willmoth, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced by cellular processes that can damage cells and their genetic material.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2024
Pause: Establish phone-free zones Constant and unpredictable phone notifications keep our brains in a highly reactive and excitable state.
—Dr. Jenny Woo, Contributor, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2024
Man-Yee Lee, spokesperson for the depository, said drills are important, but their approach to recalls is to be preventive rather than reactive.
—Vivian La, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reactive 
Hatty Willmoth, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced by cellular processes that can damage cells and their genetic material.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2024
Pause: Establish phone-free zones Constant and unpredictable phone notifications keep our brains in a highly reactive and excitable state.
—Dr. Jenny Woo, Contributor, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2024
Man-Yee Lee, spokesperson for the depository, said drills are important, but their approach to recalls is to be preventive rather than reactive.
—Vivian La, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reactive
Adjective
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Small wonder the fantasy of rising above all of that through marrying Ivan — a unicorn customer who’s young, handsome, wealthy, gregarious, and spontaneous — would beckon to the otherwise pragmatic Ani.Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
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Even when perfectly still, Garr had so much going on, the zigzags in her character’s emotions and feelings doing all the dancing and keeping the scene alive and spontaneous.Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Most of the work is in surface upgrades to flooring finishes, kitchenettes and parking transitions and in the mechanical work and changing out the lobby and reception area.Jennifer Castenson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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These generally have a high talc content (talcum powder enhances the mechanical properties of plastics and acts as a reinforcing agent when added to polymers).Jason Barlow, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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State lawmakers recently expanded the threshold to trigger an automatic recount.Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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According to Michigan law, an automatic recount is triggered in statewide races if the margin between the top two candidates is 2,000 votes or less.Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Harroun installed it with a bracket above the dashboard rather than have a mechanic ride in the race with him, as was the custom of the day.George Petras, USA TODAY, 24 May 2024
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When Part 4 was released in August 2023, mechanic Bennie was losing his garage.Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Adjective
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As the protagonist Ben in Night of the Living Dead (1968), Duane Jones unveiled a distinct facet of pre-conditioned Black martyrdom.Malik Peay, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2023
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Is the show of regret a conditioned response associated with receiving a less severe punishment?Charlotte Hu, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2011
Adjective
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Both measures required a simple majority for passage.Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
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Not toward Settembrini’s international republic of letters, and not back toward his simple bourgeois life down in the flatlands.George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near reactive
Cite this Entry
“Reactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reactive. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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