Radical
adjective
Very different from usual or traditional.
She has some radical ideas for reforming the school system.
Often appears as...
- radical change
- radical ideas
noun
A person who wants major changes in society.
The radicals are gaining control of the union.
Often appears as...
- political radical
- radical reformer
Usage tips
Often Disapproving
Political
adjective
Relating to root cause or base level of something.
We need to make a radical review of our current strategies.
Often appears as...
- radical review
- radical reform
noun
A group of atoms forming part of a molecule, having independent existence.
A chlorine atom is a radical that is often responsible for chemical reactions.
Often appears as...
- free radical
- radical reaction
Usage tips
Chemical
noun
A basic Chinese character forming part of complex characters.
Students learn the 200 most common radicals before progressing to more complex characters.
Often appears as...
- chinese radical
- radical lookup
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Very different from usual or traditional.
She has some radical ideas for reforming the school system.
Often appears as...
- radical change
- radical ideas
noun
A person who wants major changes in society.
The radicals are gaining control of the union.
Often appears as...
- political radical
- radical reformer
Usage tips
Often Disapproving
Political
adjective
Relating to root cause or base level of something.
We need to make a radical review of our current strategies.
Often appears as...
- radical review
- radical reform
noun
A group of atoms forming part of a molecule, having independent existence.
A chlorine atom is a radical that is often responsible for chemical reactions.
Often appears as...
- free radical
- radical reaction
Usage tips
Chemical
noun
A basic Chinese character forming part of complex characters.
Students learn the 200 most common radicals before progressing to more complex characters.
Often appears as...
- chinese radical
- radical lookup
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Often Progressive
The adjective form may imply progressive or modern thinking, beyond traditional norms.
Her radical approach challenged the old-fashioned curriculum.
Pro Tip 2/3Used for Emphasis
Sometimes 'radical' amplifies the degree of change or difference being described.
The artist's radical style broke from all conventions.
Pro Tip 3/3Can Imply Risk
Radical changes or ideas might carry a sense of risk due to their departure from the norm.
They took a radical risk to update their business model.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Progressive
The adjective form may imply progressive or modern thinking, beyond traditional norms.
Her radical approach challenged the old-fashioned curriculum.
Pro Tip 2/3Used for Emphasis
Sometimes 'radical' amplifies the degree of change or difference being described.
The artist's radical style broke from all conventions.
Pro Tip 3/3Can Imply Risk
Radical changes or ideas might carry a sense of risk due to their departure from the norm.
They took a radical risk to update their business model.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Progressive
The adjective form may imply progressive or modern thinking, beyond traditional norms.
Her radical approach challenged the old-fashioned curriculum.
Pro Tip 2/3Used for Emphasis
Sometimes 'radical' amplifies the degree of change or difference being described.
The artist's radical style broke from all conventions.
Pro Tip 3/3Can Imply Risk
Radical changes or ideas might carry a sense of risk due to their departure from the norm.
They took a radical risk to update their business model.
Compare with
conventionaldrasticextremefundamenticonoclasticnonconformanceprogressiverevolutionarysubversive
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Video examples
The Infinite Hotel...
he has less room than the guy in room 1. Square root rooms, like room radical 2, and room pi, where the guests expect free dessert. What self-respecting night manager would ever want to work there even for an infinite salary? But over at Hilbert's Infinite Hotel, where there's never any vacancy and always room for more,
Video examples
Are There Aliens on...
another molecule mimicking it? And if it is real and it is phosphine, was I right in saying that only life could produce it? Well, there are two ways that it could possibly be life. One is there's just a completely different biochemistry there, it's radically different from anything
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
This led her to conclude that radiation was coming from something fundamental within the atoms of each element. The idea was radical and helped to disprove the long-standing model of atoms as indivisible objects. Next, by focusing on a super radioactive ore called pitchblende,
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
to grant him emergency powers. Within a matter of months, freedom of the press was abolished, other parties were disbanded, and anti-Jewish laws were passed. Many of Hitler's early radical supporters were arrested and executed, along with potential rivals,
Video examples
Why the buildings of the...
they're wild and radical -- how is it possible that they become so ubiquitous throughout the world? And it happened because media so successfully galvanized around them that they quickly taught us that these forms mean culture and tourism.
Video examples
Want interstellar...
really necessary in order for us to build a better world today and the reason it's necessary is because it fosters radical leaps radical leaps in innovation in technology and our knowledge and understanding of the
Video examples
How the food you eat...
Like the other organs in our bodies, our brains also benefit from a steady supply of micronutrients. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables strengthen the brain to fight off free radicals that destroy brain cells,
Video examples
Are you a body with a...
such as neural prosthetics and wearable robots that could become extended parts of our bodies. Or the slightly more radical idea of mind uploading, which dangles the possibility of immortal life without a body
Video examples
What caused the French...
proclaimed a radical idea for the time -- that individual rights and freedoms were fundamental to human nature and government existed only to protect them. Their privileges gone, many nobles fled abroad,
Video examples
Revolutions 101 PIPE...
Dissident elites, mass frustration, shared motivation, and state crises. All together, these factors have ignited some of the most radical changes throughout history.
Video examples
The Infinite Hotel...
he has less room than the guy in room 1. Square root rooms, like room radical 2, and room pi, where the guests expect free dessert. What self-respecting night manager would ever want to work there even for an infinite salary? But over at Hilbert's Infinite Hotel, where there's never any vacancy and always room for more,
Video examples
Are There Aliens on...
another molecule mimicking it? And if it is real and it is phosphine, was I right in saying that only life could produce it? Well, there are two ways that it could possibly be life. One is there's just a completely different biochemistry there, it's radically different from anything
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
This led her to conclude that radiation was coming from something fundamental within the atoms of each element. The idea was radical and helped to disprove the long-standing model of atoms as indivisible objects. Next, by focusing on a super radioactive ore called pitchblende,
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
to grant him emergency powers. Within a matter of months, freedom of the press was abolished, other parties were disbanded, and anti-Jewish laws were passed. Many of Hitler's early radical supporters were arrested and executed, along with potential rivals,
Video examples
Why the buildings of the...
they're wild and radical -- how is it possible that they become so ubiquitous throughout the world? And it happened because media so successfully galvanized around them that they quickly taught us that these forms mean culture and tourism.
Video examples
Want interstellar...
really necessary in order for us to build a better world today and the reason it's necessary is because it fosters radical leaps radical leaps in innovation in technology and our knowledge and understanding of the
Video examples
How the food you eat...
Like the other organs in our bodies, our brains also benefit from a steady supply of micronutrients. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables strengthen the brain to fight off free radicals that destroy brain cells,
Video examples
Are you a body with a...
such as neural prosthetics and wearable robots that could become extended parts of our bodies. Or the slightly more radical idea of mind uploading, which dangles the possibility of immortal life without a body
Video examples
What caused the French...
proclaimed a radical idea for the time -- that individual rights and freedoms were fundamental to human nature and government existed only to protect them. Their privileges gone, many nobles fled abroad,
Video examples
Revolutions 101 PIPE...
Dissident elites, mass frustration, shared motivation, and state crises. All together, these factors have ignited some of the most radical changes throughout history.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Henning Mankell
Swedish Writer
I am a very radical person - as radical now as I was when I was younger. So my books all have in common my search for understanding of the terrible world we are living in and ways to change it.
Quote examples
Eric Garcetti
Algerian Politician
We're looking to rebrand L.A. Not in some sort of radical way, but we've forgotten to sell this city, internationally and nationally... it's important for us to say who we are.
Quote examples
Ethan Hawke
American Actor
There's some kind of actors that can radically change who they are from movie to movie. I've never really been that kind of actor. I enjoy changing the worlds that I'm in.
Quote examples
Farhan Akhtar
Indian Director
I think, the world over, new ideas have come from young people. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it is rare that new or radical ideas come from old people.
Quote examples
Greta Thunburg
Swedish Environmentalist
Being young is a great advantage, since we see the world from a new perspective and we are not afraid to make radical changes.
Quote examples
Gaspar Noe
Argentinian Director
In my case, I feel very protected when I see a movie. That's why I like making violent movies or radical movies.
Quote examples
Gijs de Vries
Dutch Politician
The violent radicals do not legitimately represent the overwhelming majority of the world's Muslims.
Quote examples
Leo Rosten
American Novelist
A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead.
Quote examples
Dana Rohrabacher
American Politician
I support this war on terror and the war on radical Islam.
Quote examples
Steve Easterbrook
British Businessman
Whenever you want a radical shift, it rarely happens.
Quote examples
Henning Mankell
Swedish Writer
I am a very radical person - as radical now as I was when I was younger. So my books all have in common my search for understanding of the terrible world we are living in and ways to change it.
Quote examples
Eric Garcetti
Algerian Politician
We're looking to rebrand L.A. Not in some sort of radical way, but we've forgotten to sell this city, internationally and nationally... it's important for us to say who we are.
Quote examples
Ethan Hawke
American Actor
There's some kind of actors that can radically change who they are from movie to movie. I've never really been that kind of actor. I enjoy changing the worlds that I'm in.
Quote examples
Farhan Akhtar
Indian Director
I think, the world over, new ideas have come from young people. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it is rare that new or radical ideas come from old people.
Quote examples
Greta Thunburg
Swedish Environmentalist
Being young is a great advantage, since we see the world from a new perspective and we are not afraid to make radical changes.
Quote examples
Gaspar Noe
Argentinian Director
In my case, I feel very protected when I see a movie. That's why I like making violent movies or radical movies.
Quote examples
Gijs de Vries
Dutch Politician
The violent radicals do not legitimately represent the overwhelming majority of the world's Muslims.
Quote examples
Leo Rosten
American Novelist
A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead.
Quote examples
Dana Rohrabacher
American Politician
I support this war on terror and the war on radical Islam.
Quote examples
Steve Easterbrook
British Businessman
Whenever you want a radical shift, it rarely happens.
Example 1 of 10
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