Synonyms of revolutionary

revolutionary 1 of 2

adjective

ˌre-və-ˈlü-shə-ˌner-ē 

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in insurgent

taking part in a rebellion

revolutionary forces that were soundly defeated before reaching the capital

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insurgent
• rebellious
• traitorous
• insurrectionary
• treacherous
• mutinous
• seditious
• treasonous
• demagogic
• agitating
• defiant
• rabble-rousing
• disobedient
• refractory
• insubordinate
• intractable
• recalcitrant
• restive
• ungovernable
• unruly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• true
• constant
• loyal
• steadfast
• staunch
• devoted
• compliant
• obedient
• true-blue
• tractable
• submissive

revolutionary

2 of 2

noun

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

• rebel
• insurgent
• revolutionist
• revolter
• insurrectionist
• mutineer
• insurrectionary
• red
• anarchist
• resistant
• challenger
• oppositionist
• radical
• resister
• insubordinate
• discontent
• extremist
• recusant
• defier
• refuser
• anarch
• malcontent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• patriot
• supporter
• loyalist
• counterrevolutionary
• counterinsurgent
• counterrevolutionist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of revolutionary

Adjective

In Iran's theocratic system, Khamenei was not only head of state and leader of a revolutionary movement, but the representative on Earth ‌for Shi'ite Islam's ⁠12th imam, who disappeared in the ninth century. — Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Colonial coffeehouses served as a hotbed for brewing up plans for revolutionary acts. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 July 2026

Noun

Or was July 4, 1776, for the revolutionaries who founded the US, actually an undistinguished day? — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Trade the tricorn hats, bonnets and homespun shirts for flip flops, sneakers and soccer jerseys, and the intrepid revolutionaries of 1776 would have looked a lot like the people of 2026. — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026