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radical

radical

462 6.0
Completely new and different and changes the basic way something works
  • adjective
  • /ˈrædɪkəl/
: radical
  • The government is now positioned to implement the kind of radical reforms contained in the reanimation package.
  • a radical change
  • a radical movement
  • a radical shift

And I see a lot of radical Trail Blazers.

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Examples

  • For this and myriad other reasons, such a radical retelling certainly warrants scrutiny.

    Academic text (2017)
  • They represent some of the most radical views in Congress.

  • I think it's really radical and cool work.

  • That was a pretty radical thing to say.

  • -This is a radical plan.

  • It's too radical for them!

  • You made a much more radical transition in that way.

  • You gotta admit doc, it's a pretty radical theory.

  • I refuse to listen to such radical talk.

  • The committee proposed a radical change to the education system that would benefit all students.

Synonyms

revolutionary
vsradical
103 5.2

Causing a big change in how people do things

advocates thorough reform of the system's fundamental parts
extremist
vsradical
  • Literature
65 6.9

Having very strong political or religious views that most people reject

focuses on deep new ideas aiming reform rather than just extreme views

Antonyms

∞ 4.6

Does not want big changes and likes traditional values

85 4.6

A person with political views that are not extreme

Compounds

free radical
  • Specialized
8 5.1

A small unstable atom or molecule that can damage body cells by reacting with them

radical mastectomy
  • Specialized
3 6.1

Surgery that removes a breast, chest muscles, and lymph nodes under the armpit to treat breast cancer

radical hysterectomy
  • Specialized
1 7.2

Surgery that removes the womb, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and nearby lymph nodes to treat cancer

1 6.8

A surgery that removes a breast with nearby chest muscle and some armpit lymph nodes

radical chic
  • Offensive
1 9.7

A style where rich people show left-wing views to seem socially aware

benzoyl radical
  • Specialized
9.9

A reactive group that forms when benzoic acid loses its OH group

benzyl radical
  • Specialized
8.7

A small chemical group formed when toluene loses one hydrogen atom from its methyl part

cacodyl radical
  • Specialized
9.9

A small chemical group containing arsenic and two methyl parts

cyanide radical
  • Specialized
8.4

A small chemical group made of one carbon and one nitrogen atom written as -CN

cyano radical
  • Specialized
9.3

A small chemical group made of one carbon and one nitrogen atom that attaches to other molecules, written as −CN

acetyl radical
  • Specialized
7.9

A small group of atoms from acetic acid that can attach to other molecules

alcohol radical
  • Specialized
7.2

A group of atoms written as –OH that makes a molecule an alcohol

aldehyde radical
  • Specialized
7.9

A carbon atom double-bonded to oxygen and single-bonded to hydrogen

alkyl radical
  • Specialized
7.3

A group of carbon and hydrogen atoms that attaches to a molecule with one free bond

allyl radical
  • Specialized
9.6

A small, reactive part of a molecule with three carbon atoms and one unpaired electron

azo radical
  • Specialized
9.9

A chemical group with two nitrogen atoms that links two carbon chains and gives bright colours to dyes

azido radical
  • Specialized
9.9

A small chemical group made of three nitrogen atoms that carries a negative charge

ethanoyl radical
  • Specialized
9.9

A part of a molecule used in chemistry, formed from the acid in vinegar, written CH3CO

ethyl radical
  • Specialized
7.5

A small reactive group of two carbon and five hydrogen atoms that forms when ethane loses one hydrogen atom

methylene radical
  • Specialized
9.0

A very reactive group of one carbon and two hydrogen atoms that exists briefly in chemical reactions

methyl radical
  • Specialized
7.0

A very active group of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms with formula CH3, formed when methane loses one hydrogen

hydroxyl radical
  • Specialized
8.0

A small chemical part made of one oxygen and one hydrogen atom that reacts quickly

hydrazo radical
  • Specialized
9.9

A small chemical group made of two nitrogen atoms and hydrogen that can attach to a molecule at two places

propyl radical
  • Specialized
8.2

A small reactive part of a molecule made from propane when it loses one hydrogen

radical sign
  • Specialized
5.3

A symbol √ that shows the square root of a number

9.6

A small secret group of people who plan or use political violence

uranyl radical
  • Specialized
9.9

A charged particle made of uranium and oxygen that forms salts with acids

vinyl radical
  • Specialized
8.8

A small chemical group with formula CH2=CH− that reacts easily in making plastics

How Radical

extreme
877 3.6
revolutionary
103 5.2
radical
462 6.0
reformist
6 6.1
moderate
85 4.6
conservative
306 4.4

Surface Forms

radical positive
radicaler comparative
radicalest superlative

Morphology

radical = radic + al

The modern sense 'extreme'/'fundamental' is a metaphorical extension that an average B1 learner cannot derive from the unseen combining form 'radic' + '-al'.

Etymology

Radical comes from the Latin radix, meaning 'root'. So a radical change is one that goes to the 'root' of a problem, making it very new or very different.