radical

adjective

Save Word

rad·i·cal | \ ˈra-di-kəl

Definition of radical

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of, relating to, or proceeding from a root: such as

a(1) : of or growing from the root of a plant radical tubers

(2) : growing from the base of a stem, from a rootlike stem, or from a stem that does not rise above the ground radical leaves

b : of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root

c : of or relating to a mathematical root

d : designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue radical surgery radical mastectomy

2 : of or relating to the origin : fundamental

3a : very different from the usual or traditional : extreme

b : favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions

c : associated with political views, practices, and policies of extreme change

d : advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs the radical right

4 slang : excellent, cool

radical

noun

Definition of radical (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a root part

b : a basic principle : foundation

2a : root sense 6

b : a sound or letter belonging to a radical

3 : one who is radical

4 : free radical also : a group of atoms bonded together that is considered an entity in various kinds of reactions or as a subunit of a larger molecule

5a : a mathematical expression indicating a root by means of a radical sign

b : radical sign

Other Words from radical Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About radical

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of radical in a Sentence

Adjective The computer has introduced radical innovations. There are some radical differences between the two proposals. The new president has made some radical changes to the company. a radical wing of extremists Noun He was a radical when he was young, but now he's much more moderate. radicals staged large, violent protests in the hopes of toppling the government

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective But for the United States, that’s a pretty radical idea. — Washington Post, 22 June 2021 Conversely, families preferring more radical changes to admission requirements may like the ZIP code approach, which did result in a more diverse pool of acceptances, but likely will protest bringing back the test. — BostonGlobe.com, 11 June 2021 For as much time as Wohlleben spends discussing roots, the deeper sources of our global crisis, and the radical changes needed to address it, go unexplored. — Robert Moor, The New Yorker, 10 June 2021 This is a radical idea that many people, and certainly the medical establishment, view as extreme, reckless, and naive. — Rebecca Grant, Marie Claire, 9 June 2021 Taqueria y Tequila and 15 more at its sister location in Miami Beach, the restaurant’s human resources director, Adriana Tecedor, came up with a radical idea: $100 signing bonuses for new employees. — Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, 12 Apr. 2021 Here’s a radical idea: turn the top six into a top nine. — Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, 12 Mar. 2021 What was a radical idea years ago is now business as usual for Amazon, Nike, Tesla, Starbucks and many other brands that have embraced the customer as the hero of their brand story. — Jason Heller, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021 In turn, this would create enormous pressure on every congressional Democrat to go along with leadership’s radical agenda, no matter how obnoxious parts of it are to them. — Karl Rove, WSJ, 9 June 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Its resurfacing comes as some Republicans have sought to undermine Stone-Manning's nomination, characterizing her as a partisan Democrat and environmental radical. — Matthew Brown, Star Tribune, 11 June 2021 Its resurfacing comes as some Republicans have sought to undermine Stone-Manning's nomination, characterizing her as a partisan Democrat and environmental radical. — Matthew Brown, ajc, 11 June 2021 Nor has the president proved to be the leftist radical that some of his opponents feared. — Washington Post, 6 June 2021 Roddenberry has been described as a radical of his era, whose utopian vision of space travel was predicated on an absence of bigotry, in which race and gender weren't matters of contention. — NBC News, 1 June 2021 My roommate thought Dylan was a radical who wanted to shake things up, as if that were a bad thing. — Beth Thames | Bethmthames@gmail.com, al, 26 May 2021 The ex-Berkeley radical was about to experience another epiphany—this time within the erstwhile tolerant, big-tent conservative movement. — Ronald Radosh, The New Republic, 5 May 2021 Luckily, the Conductor has a woman on the inside: a Grisha named Nina (Danielle Galligan), who is a heartrender and a radical who doesn't believe that all Grisha should be made to serve the Ravkan king. — Olivia Truffaut-wong, refinery29.com, 27 Apr. 2021 In tracing Nahr’s journey, Abulhawa challenges that assumption, upending our image of the Palestinian radical. — Rozina Ali, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'radical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.