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

Rothfeld is right that Cusk’s project of dismantling personhood can leave us with a void that is actually personhood radicalized, and thus anything but insightful or liberating. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Zumthor’s biomorph takes on this relational heritage, radicalizing it, with the museum pitched as a neo-modernist return or citation, with programmatic implications. — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

The complaint alleges that Bowie, who converted to Islam five years ago and became radicalized online, spent a month communicating with an ISIS facilitator who was actually an undercover operative working with the FBI. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Sometimes, institutional veterans are radicalized by their frustration with the status quo. — Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 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