counter-revolutionary

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Opposing revolution: "counter-revolutionary" describes actions, ideas, or individuals that actively oppose or seek to overthrow a revolutionary movement or the social and political changes brought about by a revolution.
   • Reactionary in nature: It can also refer to policies or attitudes intended to restore a previous political or social order that was displaced by a revolution.

2. Noun:

   • A person who opposes revolution: A "counter-revolutionary" is an individual who participates in or advocates for activities that resist or reverse the effects of a revolution.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The government suppressed all counter-revolutionary propaganda. (It stopped material that opposed the revolution.)
  • His counter-revolutionary stance led to his arrest. (His position against the revolution caused his detention.)

• Noun:

  • The regime executed many counter-revolutionaries during the purge. (Many people who opposed the revolution were put to death.)
  • She was labeled a counter-revolutionary for distributing leaflets. (She was called an opponent of the revolution for handing out pamphlets.)

Advanced Usage

• "counter-revolutionary forces": Groups or military units that fight against a revolutionary government.

  • The counter-revolutionary forces retreated after heavy losses. (The anti-revolutionary armies withdrew.)

• "counter-revolutionary ideology": A set of beliefs that reject revolutionary change and advocate for the status quo ante.

  • The party's counter-revolutionary ideology called for the return of the monarchy. (Their beliefs demanded the restoration of the old royal system.)

Variants and Related Words

• Counter-revolution (n): a revolution that opposes a previous revolution, aiming to reverse its changes.

  • The counter-revolution was crushed by loyalist troops. (The uprising against the revolution was defeated.)

• Counter-revolutionist (n): another term for a counter-revolutionary person (less common but synonymous).

  • He was a known counter-revolutionist in the underground movement. (He was a well-known figure opposing the revolution.)

Synonyms

• Reactionary: strongly opposing political or social change, often advocating a return to a previous state.

  • The reactionary faction wanted to reinstate the old laws. (They desired to bring back the previous legal system.)

• Anti-revolutionary: directly opposed to revolution.

  • The anti-revolutionary pamphlet was banned. (The publication against revolution was prohibited.)

• Conservative: in a political sense, resistant to rapid change, though less extreme than "counter-revolutionary."

  • His conservative views made him wary of the revolutionary proposals. (His cautious attitude made him suspicious of radical changes.)

Phrasal Verbs (None directly applicable)

• No common phrasal verbs are formed with "counter-revolutionary," as it is primarily a noun and adjective.

Related Idioms

• "To turn the clock back": To reverse progress and return to an earlier, often less progressive state (similar to a counter-revolutionary aim).

  • The new policies are an attempt to turn the clock back to the pre-revolution era. (They seek to restore the earlier conditions.)

• "To fight a losing battle": To struggle against an inevitable outcome, often used for counter-revolutionary efforts that fail.

  • The counter-revolutionaries were fighting a losing battle against the popular uprising. (They were doomed to fail in their opposition.)