radicalize

verb

rad·​i·​cal·​ize ˈra-di-kə-ˌlīz 

radicalized; radicalizing

transitive verb

: to make radical especially in politics

radicalization

ˌra-di-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of radicalize in a Sentence

The war has radicalized an entire generation of young people.

Recent Examples on the Web

On Saturday, two Pennsylvania teens who federal prosecutors said were radicalized by ISIS attempted to detonate IED’s at a protest led by right-wing provocateur Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2026

Now they were confronted with the grave threat that American citizens were being radicalized online. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026

Federal investigators say the suspects were motivated by ISIS, a group that radicalizes young Muslim men globally. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Mar. 2026

However, both investigations highlight long-standing warnings from federal officials about the threat of young men radicalized online far from traditional conflict zones. —Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Greg Wehner , Cb Cotton, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for radicalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

radicalize

verb

rad·​i·​cal·​ize ˈrad-i-kə-ˌlīz 

radicalized; radicalizing

: to make radical