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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of radical
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025
That radical rupture turned out to be a defining experience for my generation.
—Ivan Krastev, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
Michael Moynihan, airmail.news, 26 Oct. 2024
The implication was clear: in 1989, the man who repelled the radicals was Deng Xiaoping.
—Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for radical 
Adjective
Any radical rethink of this happy self-reinforcing cycle in 2025 would be a tricky challenge for the market to face, though the evidence of such a shift in thinking is still mostly anecdotal and incomplete.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025
That radical rupture turned out to be a defining experience for my generation.
—Ivan Krastev, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
Among the undergrad radicals, the mood was bored and distracted, envious of previous generations.
—Michael Moynihan, airmail.news, 26 Oct. 2024
The implication was clear: in 1989, the man who repelled the radicals was Deng Xiaoping.
—Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for radical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for radical
Adjective
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The appearance of weather conditions suggestive of La Niña, a climate phenomenon linked to drier conditions and drought in southern parts of the U.S., likely played a large part in priming southern California for extreme fire conditions.Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
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Be realistic The most uncomfortable truth of the last few days has been how quickly firefighting efforts were overwhelmed and outmatched by the extreme fire conditions, Cohen said.Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This Carter button, in the campaign’s signature green, summed up their politically balanced ticket: Deep South partnered with far North, appealing to liberal and conservative Democrats alike.Bill Marsh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
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South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol — weakened after the liberal opposition retained control in an April election -– astonished the country by declaring martial law in a late-night announcement on Dec. 3.Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The property’s prime location is also close to the launch sites of the area’s famed hot air balloon rides, which are a wonderful way to take in the spectacular views of the otherworldly land formations.Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
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At 6-2, 202 pounds, Will Johnson has excellent size and length for a cornerback and would be a wonderful complement to Gardner.Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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James addresses the problem by creating a revolutionary who resembles himself: not just a single-minded ideologue, but a masterful craftsman, a lover of art and a sensitive friend.Max Chapnick, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
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The terms right-wing and left-wing come from the French Revolution, when the nobility, who sought to preserve the status quo, sat on the right side of the National Assembly, and the revolutionaries, who wanted democratic change, sat on the left.Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But anyone who knows Fox News knows there are rabid fans of Fox News out there.Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2025
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If that wasn't ridiculous enough, the following internet pile-on was so rabid Bieber reached out to Gomez to ask her fans to stop sending her death threats.Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The two used a parliamentary move to attempt to force a full vote in the council, but the Johnson administration’s campaign with progressive allies and immigration advocates succeeded at beating back the legislation.Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
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Zoom out: The Sixteen Thirty Fund acts as a clearinghouse for progressive causes, funneling unrestricted money — around $400 million in the 2020 campaign, according to the New York Times — to various organizations.Hans Nichols, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Finance chief Amy Hood said in October that revenue growth from Microsoft’s Azure cloud will speed up in the first half of this year because of greater AI infrastructure capacity.Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
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The multiple tote bags Elsbeth drags around are a great example of this.Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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There, unconventional thinkers took advantage of a collapsing market.William Mullane, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
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Break Routine: Explore unconventional locations to make the experience more memorable.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near radical
Cite this Entry
“Radical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/radical. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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