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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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"

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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

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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
Something that does feel forward-facing about deBasement, to my mind, is how the whole project is grounded in this radical, anti-capitalist, anti-fascist politic. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 But the most radical and useful policy would be to stop making the prenatal care and birth of Americans dependent on the whims of each state’s Medicaid policy and the national political currents of the day. — Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Noun
The one in which his tiny team of negotiators surrendered to the radicals ruling that luckless nation. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026 The actor got his start on Family Ties, an '80s sitcom about the Keaton family, whose matriarch and patriarch were once 1960s radicals now attempting to raise their Reagan-era children in suburbia. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 9 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 Old Trails Fire – fueled by extreme fire weather conditions – has burned nearly 3,000 acres, Washington State Forester George Geissler said at a news conference Saturday, adding about 4,000 buildings are threatened in the area.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In Montana, the entire east side of the state was under an extreme heat warning Saturday, said weather service meteorologist Jeff Kitsmiller.
    — Tammy Webber, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of extreme
Adjective
  • Sarah Miller, a software engineer from the liberal stronghold of Madison, has heard all of the chatter about a civil war in the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • As the conservative foil to liberal do-gooder Sandy, his wife Kirsten Cohen (played by Kelly Rowan) was a better representation of the upper-crust Newport Beach population in many ways.
    — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of liberal
Adjective
  • The restaurant has two Michelin stars; there's also a daytime bistro and a wonderful bar worth spending a few hours in.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And like ginseng was supposed to be like this magical supplement that, like, improved health and memory and all sorts of wonderful things.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Noun
  • Trump is starving the machine that creates America's socialist revolutionaries.
    — , FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
  • The monarchy was overthrown in the February Revolution of 1917, and the tsar and his family became prisoners of the revolutionaries.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
Definition of revolutionary
Adjective
  • Veterinarians are urging pet owners to vaccinate their animals against rabies after a housecat in Pleasanton tested positive for rabies in June, apparently after being bitten by a rabid bat.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • Two men, born 40 years apart nearly to the day, growing up in the same part of the country, both inspiring rabid fans while trying to keep a low profile.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026
Definition of rabid
Adjective
  • The argument’s been just as lopsided in Michigan, where progressive candidates were first out with plans to limit data centers.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 31 July 2026
  • Ideally, this new midfielder would be a progressive passer — something Everton also see in Hackney — who helps in possession, but can also distribute in a more direct manner at times.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of progressive
Adjective
  • The other great piece of news is that, yes, this will get a localized release with multiple language support, something that the original PlayStation Portable version never had.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Zachary Robert Stacer, 22, was arrested on July 30 and charged with two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, three counts of felonious assault and five counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer.
    — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • The result is one of the most unconventional short courses in the game.
    — Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Once considered unprofessional or unconventional in some settings, tattoos have become far more accepted across generations.
    — Rachel Brown Kirkland, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of unconventional

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radical
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Cite this Entry

“Radical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/radical. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on radical

Nglish: Translation of radical for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about radical

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