Synonyms of radical

radical 1 of 2

adjective

ˈra-di-kəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• extreme
• revolutionary
• rabid
• extremist
• ultra
• fanatic
• violent
• subversive
• revolutionist
• reactionary
• wild

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conservative
• moderate
• traditional
• conventional
• middle-of-the-road
• progressive
• liberal
• unrevolutionary
• orthodox
• nonrevolutionary
• temperate

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"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• liberal
• progressive
• unconventional
• modern
• contemporary
• nontraditional
• nonconventional
• unorthodox
• advanced
• broad-minded
• open-minded
• extreme
• nonorthodox
• permissive
• lenient
• tolerant
• impartial
• large-minded
• unbiased
• forbearing
• indulgent
• objective

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conservative
• traditional
• conventional
• orthodox
• old-fashioned
• rigid
• strict
• hard
• dogmatic
• stodgy
• doctrinal
• nonprogressive
• hidebound
• reactionary
• intolerant
• bigoted
• narrow-minded
• blinkered
• unreconstructed

3

as in wonderful

slang of the very best kind

surfing conditions at virtually all of the beaches along the coast were truly radical

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wonderful
• great
• excellent
• terrific
• awesome
• beautiful
• lovely
• fabulous
• fantastic
• superb
• stellar
• marvelous
• prime
• classic
• fine
• hot
• famous
• brave
• neat
• cool
• sensational
• divine
• quality
• heavenly
• noble
• splendid
• superior
• groovy
• slick
• exceptional
• good
• grand
• choice
• nifty
• immense
• high-class
• superlative
• top
• cracking
• righteous
• dandy
• mean
• first-rate
• first-class
• keen
• swell
• frontline
• par excellence
• banner
• dynamite
• capital
• fab
• top-notch
• topping
• too much
• sterling
• blue-chip
• prize
• peachy
• unsurpassed
• top-shelf
• dope
• bumper
• blue-ribbon
• out-of-sight
• out of this world
• crackerjack
• boss
• decent
• supernal
• topflight
• better
• number one
• special
• classical
• gone
• acceptable
• fantabulous
• first-string
• traditional
• bully
• peachy keen
• hype
• adequate
• wizard
• top-of-the-line
• A1
• tip-top
• satisfactory
• corking
• down
• gangbusters
• prizewinning
• bang-up
• jim-dandy
• A-OK
• primo
• five-star
• brag
• bonny
• tolerable
• all right
• four-star
• boffo
• phat
• fancy
• numero uno
• gilt-edged
• OK
• premium
• passable
• high-grade
• standard
• high-test
• select
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• terrible
• awful
• vile
• pathetic
• rotten
• wretched
• atrocious
• lousy
• bad
• unsatisfactory
• inferior
• execrable
• low-grade
• substandard
• mediocre
• second-class
• middling
• second-rate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revolutionary
• extremist
• rebel
• revolutionist
• crazy
• reformer
• anarchist
• leftist
• insurgent
• progressive
• reformist
• lefty
• red
• agitator
• subversive
• separatist
• separationist
• young Turk
• secessionist
• insurrectionist
• anarch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderate
• conservative
• Tory
• reactionary
• traditionalist
• rightist
• middle-of-the-roader
• fuddy-duddy
• standpatter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of radical

Adjective

Bartos argues the gathering codified radical anti-Western hatred, antisemitism, and anti-American sentiment, birth-place to the BDS movement. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Balasubramanian suspects that even this kind of radical model doesn’t go far enough. — Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

Once Lamb starts publishing daily dispatches about her abduction at the hands of Indo‑Trinidadian radicals demanding a ransom, the writing is on the walls that this woman is going to die. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026

And at college and law school, Clarence Thomas was an angry left-wing radical. — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026