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

This creates a dangerous feedback loop in which extremism and violence are normalized through the glorification of historical events that celebrate acts of rebellion while strengthening identities that radicalize individuals. —Art Jipson, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025

McVeigh was a Gulf War veteran who had become radicalized by anti-government beliefs and hoped to inspire a revolution against the federal government with the bombing. —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2025

Respectfully, how are Daniel and BB friends, like this guy is being radicalized before our very eyes? —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025

Facebook’s algorithms, meanwhile, have been radicalizing Americans for at least a decade, and Instagram’s algorithmic feed is wrecking the mental health of an entire generation. —Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 20 Mar. 2025

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