1
as in extreme
being very far from the center of public opinion
the baggy trousers that Amelia Bloomer introduced in the 1850s were considered a radical form of dress for women at the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in liberal
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
radical proponents of spelling reform would have every word spelled "just the way it sounds"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wonderful
slang
of the very best kind
surfing conditions at virtually all of the beaches along the coast were truly radical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in revolutionary
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government
radicals staged large, violent protests in the hopes of toppling the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of radical
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
While common now, it was considered radical and unfair at the time.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Father Ed and Bishop Rob Hirschfeld aren’t political radicals.
—Ernesto Burden, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for radical
Adjective
The ideas about the frontier that Turner had articulated in his paper might have been radical in the historical field in the 1890s.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
While common now, it was considered radical and unfair at the time.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
Wood argues that colleges are not only staffed with a disproportionate number of radicals who indoctrinate the students but also have turned everything from dormitory management to the dining halls over to the left.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Father Ed and Bishop Rob Hirschfeld aren’t political radicals.
—Ernesto Burden, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for radical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for radical
Adjective
-
From extreme heat and wildfire smoke to asthma and utility costs, climate change is already impacting our everyday lives.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This model is also the brand’s most durable yet, boasting an extreme IP69 rating for water and dust resistance, paired with a versatile triple 50MP camera system that captures professional-grade detail across wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto shots.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Gorsuch’s opinion drew support from liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Even those who advocated for conservative positions were compelled to make their case in language amenable to the liberal sensibility.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The teams got invaluable data — and some wonderful video too.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Books Are Magic, a wonderful bookshop owned by novelist Emma Staub, alone could suck up an entire morning.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The game happened to be on November 18th, the anniversary of Haitian revolutionaries defeating the French Army in 1803 before declaring independence.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Fidel Castro, either wanting to protect his family’s privacy or maintain the mystique of a revolutionary who only had time for his country, never publicly disclosed the family.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And then there’s the New England Sports Network, or NESN, which has the benefit of airing some local games to New England’s rabid fan base, as well as Pittsburgh’s.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
One rabid mongoose bite later, and Ben is a skull-crushing, face-ripping menace terrorizing Lucy and her friends.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the movie, which was progressive for its time, the trans character attempts suicide after being subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the manipulative Sonny, who tries to make amends by going rogue and stealing money for their surgery.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Upstairs, Riva Terrace is a super-fun warm-weather spot for Italian small plates and progressive cocktails like First Light (a pineapple-run creation infused with ginger and ginseng) overlooking the outdoor pool and the office buildings of downtown.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But simply naming the great fear and sharing it with the millions of watchers in living rooms and hotels and airport lobbies was a trial almost too painful to contemplate.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
No substitutions for prize except by Sponsor, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be substituted.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The situation was finally resolved when a wildlife response team used an unconventional method, crawling under the house and firing paintballs filled with vegetable oil to drive the bear out.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This unconventional but sweet design was the perfect reference to Margaret’s free spirit.—
Jessica Gibbs,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Radical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/radical. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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