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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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
In the early nineteenth century in Britain, a number of radical newspapers sprang up which aimed to equip their readers with the knowledge and ideas necessary to wrest power from their social betters. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 In an industry frequently critiqued for its insular nature and hyper-fixation on dizzying scale, a quiet movement is taking root—one built on the simple, radical premise that real innovation necessitates stepping outside the fashion bubble. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
Dohrn, who is the son of the longtime radicals Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers and who has taught for several years at Northwestern University, certainly has enjoyed a catbird’s seat on the culture wars of academia. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Some of our friends, who’d assumed that abstract art was all that any longer really mattered, were wondering if Jack’s nudes were radical or retro or if retro was the new radical. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 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 government is widely regarded as the most extreme Israel has ever had.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Teymouri filed a motion last week seeking to have the couple held on $100 million bail, citing their extreme wealth.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of extreme
Adjective
  • Because the right is viewed as divisive by liberal corporations, and the left is viewed as empathetic common sense.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • This process is evident in Egypt and Turkey, where declining mosque attendance has accompanied the growing appeal of liberal values, particularly secularism.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of liberal
Adjective
  • Bruna is fantastic, and Alison is a wonderful producer with a great eye.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
  • It is carefully crafted and wincingly sincere, a wonderful conversion of inversions.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Noun
  • The great innovator of fashion photography, the revolutionary, was also a strict traditionalist.
    — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Chambers is a trust-fund revolutionary with unusually deep pockets.
    — Rich Cohen, Air Mail, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of revolutionary
Adjective
  • Small high school gymnasium, rabid fans watching the WNBA Finals.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The outsized performance of movies such as Obsession and Backrooms sparked a rabid interest from studios in a generation of filmmakers who did not come up the traditional latter, but instead rose up making short-form content on digital platforms.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of rabid
Adjective
  • The idea that criminals could serve sentences behind bars was a more progressive approach to justice in comparison.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Vang, 41, is one of several younger and progressive challengers seeking to oust longtime incumbents across the country.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of progressive
Adjective
  • But this is in fact the opportunity hiding inside the greatest technological acceleration of our lifetimes.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • This scandal comes as an appalling blow to the BND, and Germany as a whole, at a time of great danger.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • The food-beauty collaboration pipeline is gaining an unconventional contender.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The most unconventional of the trio is the jamón y queso, built with ribbons of jamón serrano.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of unconventional

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Cite this Entry

“Radical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/radical. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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