revolutionary 1 of 2

adjective

ˌre-və-ˈlü-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce revolutionary (audio)
Definition of revolutionarynext
1
as in radical
being very far from the center of public opinion a candidate with a lot of crazy, revolutionary ideas that no one seems to be going for

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2
as in insurgent
taking part in a rebellion revolutionary forces that were soundly defeated before reaching the capital

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revolutionary

2 of 2

noun

1
as in rebel
a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government after the collapse of the Russian monarchy, the moderate socialists briefly governed until being overthrown by the Bolshevik revolutionaries

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2
as in revolutionist
a person who rises up against authority at first the government was not worried about this small band of unarmed revolutionaries

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of revolutionary
Adjective
Even if reality ends up being 30–40%, that would prove revolutionary in commercial aviation. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026 In Iran's theocratic system, Khamenei was not only head of state and leader of a revolutionary movement, but the representative on Earth ‌for Shi'ite Islam's ⁠12th imam, who disappeared in the ninth century. — Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Noun
Many became meeting places for the Founding Fathers and other revolutionaries as tensions with Britain grew. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 Trade the tricorn hats, bonnets and homespun shirts for flip flops, sneakers and soccer jerseys, and the intrepid revolutionaries of 1776 would have looked a lot like the people of 2026. — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for revolutionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolutionary
  1. radical
  2. insurgent
  3. rebel
  4. extreme
  5. rebellious
  6. extremist
  7. anarchist
  8. crazy
Adjective
  • That’s what Rebecca Loviconi‘s ‘genre fusion’ feature doc Crime or Rescue will reveal, as the ‘romantic true crime’ story that’s set to hit the doc market follows radical animal activists who unexpectedly fall in love during the filming.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026
  • Alfaturk16’s leak locks in a July 22 release date for the new Galaxy Watches, potentially giving Samsung just a few weeks to unveil what could prove to be a radical addition to the company’s wearable portfolio.
    — Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of radical
Adjective
  • Four years ago, during his insurgent first campaign, this editorial board had been wary of some of Mejia’s radical rhetoric.
    — The Editorial Board, Daily News, 10 June 2026
  • Myanmar is worried about resistance to military rule, India is concerned with insurgent groups in its northeast.
    — Michael Sullivan, NPR, 30 May 2026
Definition of insurgent
Noun
  • Gillespie also has a reputation for melding music to movies, as seen in Cruella, his 2021 movie that cast Disney villainess Cruella de Vil as a punk rock rebel in London’s fashion scene.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • The winner is the daughter of the late Alberto Fujimori, the former president whose government in the 1990s defeated the Shining Path extremist rebel group but also took an authoritarian turn.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of rebel
Adjective
  • The National Weather Service said cool air from the north will push the heat dome, responsible for a heat wave that started midweek, south and west in the coming days, relieving some of the most extreme temperatures in the Northeast.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • The laminate reinforces the glass to create a shatter-resistant barrier, preventing shards of glass from flying out during extreme weather.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of extreme
Adjective
  • For seven seasons, a hodgepodge crew mixing Starfleet and the rebellious Maquis put aside their differences after they got zapped 70,000 lightyears away from Earth, deep into the uncharted Delta Quadrant.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
  • This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of rebellious
Noun
  • More than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically ‌massacred in the East African ⁠nation by Hutu extremists over roughly 100 days from April ⁠to July 1994.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 1 July 2026
  • Opportunists like the daycare group, which was selling weapons, and extremists — not the hobbyists.
    — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026
Definition of extremist
Noun
  • Earlier this week, Swiss anarchist-hacker Maia Arson Crimew leaked information about Dialog, the secretive, invite-only organization cofounded by right-wing tech billionaire Peter Thiel in 2006.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 18 June 2026
  • Trump has long invoked the term against a range of political opponents, including peaceful protesters without anarchist-leanings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Definition of anarchist
Noun
  • Actually, there was a good reason, and the reason was that those crazies over at CBS were airing this season up to SIX NIGHTS A WEEK!
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
  • Had enough listening to crazies.
    — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
Definition of crazy

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Cite this Entry

“Revolutionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolutionary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of revolutionary for Spanish Speakers

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