Synonyms of radical

radical 1 of 2

adjective

ˈra-di-kəl 

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

• extreme
• revolutionary
• rabid
• extremist
• ultra
• fanatic
• violent
• subversive
• revolutionist
• reactionary
• wild

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conservative
• moderate
• traditional
• conventional
• middle-of-the-road
• progressive
• liberal
• unrevolutionary
• orthodox
• nonrevolutionary
• temperate

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

• liberal
• progressive
• unconventional
• modern
• contemporary
• nontraditional
• nonconventional
• unorthodox
• advanced
• broad-minded
• open-minded
• extreme
• nonorthodox
• permissive
• lenient
• tolerant
• impartial
• large-minded
• unbiased
• forbearing
• indulgent
• objective

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conservative
• traditional
• conventional
• orthodox
• old-fashioned
• rigid
• strict
• hard
• dogmatic
• stodgy
• doctrinal
• nonprogressive
• hidebound
• reactionary
• intolerant
• bigoted
• narrow-minded
• blinkered
• unreconstructed

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

• wonderful
• great
• excellent
• terrific
• awesome
• beautiful
• lovely
• fabulous
• fantastic
• superb
• stellar
• marvelous
• prime
• classic
• fine
• hot
• famous
• brave
• neat
• cool
• sensational
• divine
• quality
• heavenly
• noble
• splendid
• superior
• groovy
• slick
• exceptional
• good
• grand
• choice
• nifty
• immense
• high-class
• superlative
• top
• cracking
• righteous
• dandy
• mean
• first-rate
• first-class
• keen
• swell
• frontline
• par excellence
• banner
• dynamite
• capital
• fab
• top-notch
• topping
• too much
• sterling
• blue-chip
• prize
• peachy
• unsurpassed
• top-shelf
• dope
• bumper
• blue-ribbon
• out-of-sight
• out of this world
• crackerjack
• boss
• decent
• supernal
• topflight
• better
• number one
• special
• classical
• gone
• acceptable
• fantabulous
• first-string
• traditional
• bully
• peachy keen
• hype
• adequate
• wizard
• top-of-the-line
• A1
• tip-top
• satisfactory
• corking
• down
• gangbusters
• prizewinning
• bang-up
• jim-dandy
• A-OK
• primo
• five-star
• brag
• bonny
• tolerable
• all right
• four-star
• boffo
• phat
• fancy
• numero uno
• gilt-edged
• OK
• premium
• passable
• high-grade
• standard
• high-test
• select
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• terrible
• awful
• vile
• pathetic
• rotten
• wretched
• atrocious
• lousy
• bad
• unsatisfactory
• inferior
• execrable
• low-grade
• substandard
• mediocre
• second-class
• middling
• second-rate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revolutionary
• extremist
• rebel
• revolutionist
• crazy
• reformer
• anarchist
• leftist
• insurgent
• progressive
• reformist
• lefty
• red
• agitator
• subversive
• separatist
• separationist
• young Turk
• secessionist
• insurrectionist
• anarch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderate
• conservative
• Tory
• reactionary
• traditionalist
• rightist
• middle-of-the-roader
• fuddy-duddy
• standpatter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of radical

Adjective

French media reported that the suspect was close to radical environmentalist movements. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

The classic free-radical theory of aging, first proposed in the 1950s, held that aging itself resulted from the relentless buildup of ROS in our cells, decade after decade, and the wear and tear this caused. — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Noun

But a growing cohort of religious radicals – including Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s public security minister – advocates Jewish worship and control of the site. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026

When the researchers tested what the hydroxyl radicals could do, a common protein clumped together at the plastic surfaces — a sign that its structure had been damaged. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 14 Oct. 2026