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Definitions

radical

[rad-i-kuhl] / ˈræd ɪ kəl /
ADJECTIVE
fundamental, basic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
profound
STRONG
basal bottom cardinal constitutional essential native natural organic original primary primitive
WEAK
deep-seated foundational inherent innate intrinsic meat-and-potatoes primal thoroughgoing underlying vital
Antonyms
STRONG
inessential minor secondary unimportant
WEAK
extrinsic nonessential superficial
ADJECTIVE
deviating by extremes
Synonyms
STRONGEST
extremist fanatical far-out leftist militant progressive revolutionary sweeping uncompromising violent
STRONG
entire freethinking insurgent recusant refractory
WEAK
advanced anarchistic complete excessive iconoclastic immoderate insubordinate insurrectionary intransigent lawless mutinous nihilistic rabid rebellious recalcitrant restive riotous seditious severe thorough ultra ultraist way-out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
moderate
WEAK
conservative superficial
NOUN
person who advocates significant, often extreme change
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitator anarchist extremist fanatic firebrand insurgent leftist militant progressive rebel reformer renegade revolutionary rioter subversive
STRONG
avant-garde freethinker iconoclast insurrectionist left-winger mutineer nihilist nonconformist objector pacifist secessionist
WEAK
revolter ultraist
Antonyms
WEAK
conservative moderate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These are not radical steps; they are basic protections.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Picking Ternus as its next chief signals Apple prioritizing market-calming corporate continuity over radical change, according to Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of client devices at market analytics firm IDC.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

In a federal hospital in Seattle in the 1960s, researchers began testing a radical new therapy on patients near death from blood cancers: a bone-marrow transplant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

She is now looking at trying to maximise production from existing North Sea fields through "tie backs" and enact a radical reform to break the link between electricity prices and rising gas prices.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Besides, now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were movie stars, reality TV personalities, or radical televangelists.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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