radical 1 of 2

adjective

ˈra-di-kəl How to pronounce radical (audio)
Definition of radicalnext
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

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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"

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3
as in wonderful
slang of the very best kind surfing conditions at virtually all of the beaches along the coast were truly radical

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radical

2 of 2

noun

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

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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 radical
Adjective
But the practical race in 2026 is won by mastering both contests at once with absolute capability and radical efficiency, closed excellence and open diffusion, the biggest reliable compute and the smartest use of it. — Mark Minevich, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 Experts advocate for a radical redesign, urging boards to prioritize genuine governance competencies and continuous impact measurement, moving away from outdated models that hinder vital community services. — Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
Where are the voices of all the mainstream Democrats in response to the takeover by the radicals in the Democratic Party today? — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026 The one in which his tiny team of negotiators surrendered to the radicals ruling that luckless nation. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for radical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for radical
  1. extreme
  2. liberal
  3. wonderful
  4. revolutionary
  5. rabid
  6. progressive
  7. great
  8. unconventional
Adjective
  • The combination of extreme heat and high demand for sites — which means not everyone can visit in the morning — is adding urgency to sun protection.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Phillips-Fein recently talked to CNN about how those ideals have eroded in recent years and why some working- class and poor people embrace the belief that extreme inequality is good for America.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of extreme
Adjective
  • Americans and Europeans who identify as leftist or liberal tend to have fewer children than those who identify as conservative or right-leaning.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The three finalists are liberal strongholds surrounded by the type of suburban areas that have become increasingly important to the party in recent elections.
    — Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of liberal
Adjective
  • There’s this wonderful character in the book, Lucky’s childhood friend [Steph].
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Toronto is a wonderful city, and this will be a Saturday night game featuring Sidney Crosby in the place for hockey.
    — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Noun
  • Centrist Democrats are not socialists, not revolutionaries, and not disposed to blame Zionist conspiracies for every trouble in American life, including police brutality and urban gentrification.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026
  • To make matters worse, ten days later, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of revolutionary
Adjective
  • Organizers believe the rabid fan bases PUP, Hot Mulligan, Angel Du$t and Basement enjoy contributed to the surge in attendance.
    — Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Servite’s Rick Garretson, Orange Lutheran’s Ray Fenton and JSerra’s Hardy Nickerson have high expectations from their rabid fan base.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rabid
Adjective
  • Black Americans were struggling against the legacy of Jim Crow, and Abdeen interned with Ernest Goodman, a civil-rights lawyer who was reviving the National Lawyers Guild, a collective of progressive legal professionals.
    — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Several political programs returned to the chart this quarter, including Mark Levin Podcast, Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar, The David Pakman Show, Pivot, and Piers Morgan Uncensored, spanning both progressive and conservative audiences.
    — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of progressive
Adjective
  • Rivera-Vega is suspected of setting the fire and also had been charged with arson causing great bodiliy injury before the woman died.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Starting the election calendar in South Carolina is intended in part to give Black voters a greater voice at the outset of the nominating process.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • Middlemarch George Eliot’s unconventional Victorian novel upends expectations while crafting a complex portrait of family and individual life in fictional Middlemarch, North Loamshire.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In it, Leó, a renowned geriatrician specialized in Alzheimer’s disease, develops an unconventional friendship with Ásdís, a psychiatrist who’s returned to Iceland to care for her ailing grandmother.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of unconventional

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radiating
radical
radicalism
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Cite this Entry

“Radical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/radical. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about radical

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