Meaning & use

radical

adjective·Academic

Relating to or advocating for thorough, fundamental change, especially in political or social structures.

See it in a sentence

The reformers proposed radical changes to how the healthcare system was funded.

Her radical approach to teaching abandoned textbooks in favor of hands-on projects.

A note on using this word

As a noun, a radical is a person who holds or promotes such extreme political or social views.

Words with a similar meaning

extremefundamental

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

moderateconservative

Another way to use it

2. noun

A person who advocates thorough or extreme political or social reform.

The young radical spent years organizing protests against the government.

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