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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in insurgent
taking part in a rebellion
revolutionary forces that were soundly defeated before reaching the capital
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 revolutionary
Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
As Syria convulses in revolutionary chaos and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, Netanyahu is in a stuffy Tel Aviv courtroom testifying in a criminal corruption trial.
—NBC News, 10 Dec. 2024
Thomas Meaney, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
Some of his popularity stems from his revered father, Chokwe Lumumba, a civil rights activist, who was known on a national stage for calling for reparations, representing Black revolutionaries and successfully defending Tupac Shakur against assault charges.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for revolutionary 
Adjective
In this way, the Iran-contra debacle helped put to rest any Israeli illusions that revolutionary Iran was ephemeral or nonthreatening.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
As Syria convulses in revolutionary chaos and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, Netanyahu is in a stuffy Tel Aviv courtroom testifying in a criminal corruption trial.
—NBC News, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
Adorno and Benjamin were, however, far from political revolutionaries.
—Thomas Meaney, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
Some of his popularity stems from his revered father, Chokwe Lumumba, a civil rights activist, who was known on a national stage for calling for reparations, representing Black revolutionaries and successfully defending Tupac Shakur against assault charges.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for revolutionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolutionary
Adjective
-
Fernanda Torres plays Eunice, mother to Marcelo and his four siblings; her life is changed forever when her politically active, if not especially radical husband Rubens (Selton Mello) is taken away for questioning after a visit by military police.Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024
-
From the first supernal image of rain on a green field, Jean-Luc Godard’s Hail Mary (Je vous salue, Marie) approaches the mystical with a sense of radical awe.Armond White, National Review, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Since insurgent interactions with al Qaeda are almost certain to be clandestine, at least at first, detecting violations of the deal will be a test of U.S. intelligence gathering.David Petraeus, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2020
-
Of course an insurgent political group can’t go shouting in the streets, and your friends and neighbors had better stay quiet, too.Meredith Haggerty, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Noun
-
What's New On Friday 170 House Republicans joined Democrats to approve an emergency funding bill just hours before a partial government shutdown was due to go into effect, despite President-elect Donald Trump's threat to oust any rebels.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
-
Over the years, there have also been news reports of Syrian rebels being treated in Israeli hospitals.Lauren Frayer, NPR, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
There’s no getting around that this is an extreme version of an already extreme watch, so this is not for the faint of heart.Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2024
-
In more extreme cases, Dr. Romanoff warns that codependency can manifest in controlling behaviors.Jenna Ryu, SELF, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Unconventional and futuristic, Aquarius pushes us to break free from tradition, encouraging bold, rebellious choices in our wardrobe.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
-
Tomás forbids it, but Paja, in the style of rebellious teens and younger siblings everywhere, ignores him.Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
And many revolutionists think that new equipment has changed the patterns of advance and retreat in Ukraine relative to historical experience.Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2023
-
As the head of China’s Nationalist government, Chiang and his party were trying to establish control in a nation divided among revolutionists, nationalists, Indigenous warlords, and a developing communist army and government.Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
Noun
-
Their dilemmas evoke our disregard of the vacancy in Antifa anarchists and our encouragement of gender dysphoria.Armond White, National Review, 25 Sep. 2024
-
Oh, and Josh and CJ meet with some crazy mapmakers, and Toby hangs out with anarchists. 50.Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
Critics of parlor culture tended to be reformers inspired by William Morris, the English socialist and textile designer who helped launch the Arts and Crafts movement.Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
-
Such reasoning has been rejected by victims, church reformers and even some bishops who have called for church organizations to be transparent to aid in healing for those who’ve suffered and seek atonement for not just the abuse, but also repeated cover-ups over the years.Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near revolutionary
Cite this Entry
“Revolutionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolutionary. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share