1
as in radical
being very far from the center of public opinion
a candidate with a lot of crazy, revolutionary ideas that no one seems to be going for
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in insurgent
taking part in a rebellion
revolutionary forces that were soundly defeated before reaching the capital
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rebel
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government
after the collapse of the Russian monarchy, the moderate socialists briefly governed until being overthrown by the Bolshevik revolutionaries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in revolutionist
a person who rises up against authority
at first the government was not worried about this small band of unarmed revolutionaries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of revolutionary
ABC News, 12 May 2026
The lawsuit accuses Altman and his top lieutenant, Greg Brockman, of double-crossing Musk by straying from the San Francisco company's founding mission to be an altruistic steward of a revolutionary technology.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Thanks to a new English book from Boston playwright Kirsten Greenidge, the action is transported from France to 1776-era Boston where Massachusetts revolutionary and patriot Deborah Sampson has disguised herself as a man to fight for independence.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
Adjective
The lawsuit accuses Altman and his top lieutenant, Greg Brockman, of double-crossing Musk by straying from the San Francisco company’s founding mission to be an altruistic steward of a revolutionary technology.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
The lawsuit accuses Altman and his top lieutenant, Greg Brockman, of double-crossing Musk by straying from the San Francisco company's founding mission to be an altruistic steward of a revolutionary technology.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
Noun
The former revolutionary spent the rest of his life working for the Mexican government, most notably as ambassador to Scandinavian countries from 1946 to 1956.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Thanks to a new English book from Boston playwright Kirsten Greenidge, the action is transported from France to 1776-era Boston where Massachusetts revolutionary and patriot Deborah Sampson has disguised herself as a man to fight for independence.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolutionary
Adjective
-
Britain’s markets have appeared shaky as rumors of a contest have swirled, which may give those who favor a more radical approach pause for thought.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
-
Revisiting the groundbreaking feminist performance art movement in 1970s Los Angeles, one artist spotlights the inspirational, transformational, radical community exploding the narrative and status quo.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
So the insurgent vibe is now directed in a different direction.—
Katie Drummond,
Wired News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The pressure on Mamdani will be intense, as his administration will be seen nationwide as a barometer of the insurgent socialist movement's ability to govern.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
In March, Washington sanctioned Rwanda’s defense forces and several senior officials, accusing them of funding the M23 rebels who have taken over mineral-rich areas of eastern DR Congo.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
-
Chance understands why some kids rebel.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nothing too extreme thus far — no darkness retreat, ayahuasca journey or draft-night hijacking — but still, enough to make the Steelers feel just a bit uneasy.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
Outdoor succulents should be kept somewhat sheltered from extreme weather such as high winds or heavy rains.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Artist Sean Gordon Murphy has always had a rebellious indie streak to his work.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
-
The Clash are singing of a city aflame, the Sex Pistols are somehow getting more popular after imploding on tour, and on every street corner, mohawks and safety pins are on rebellious display.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The collection drew inspiration from two seemingly distant sources: a still-life painting of a shirt collar by Joe Brainard, the prolific 1960s New York writer and artist, and a short story by Yu Dafu, the early 20th-century Chinese author and revolutionist.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In a country shackled and scarred by race, religion, gender, and class, much of that rationalized and reified by mainline American churches, the Disciples were genial revolutionists offering inclusion, education, and empowerment for those at the margins.—
Richard D. Mahoney,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
He was succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is considered more of an ideological extremist than his father.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Her prank of lying in wait for each of her housemates, bombarding them with a Super Soaker, and then enlisting them in her eco-army of Seussian extremists was just pure wonderful delight.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
These forces would collide on the Near West Side on a spring evening, against the backdrop of labor unrest, union activity and a hint of influence from a sinister anarchist movement.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Through thoughtful letters from prison, an anarchist incarcerated since 1980 reflects on his radical past.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Revolutionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolutionary. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
