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

For more than a decade, YouTube has faced its fair share of scourges, including accusations of radicalizing users or harming their mental well-being. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Sanders has seen enough young men, in locker rooms and in his office, turn angry, bitter and radicalized. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

Words become weapons, opinions become radicalized, and gradually, the two neighbors become deadly enemies in a series that spotlights the prejudices that have started to creep back into our lives. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 June 2026

Like in so many other recent shootings, the two perpetrators of the Islamic Center shooting were young, isolated men who were radicalized by the internet. — Catherine Blakespear, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 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