radicalize

American  

[rad-i-kuh-lahyz] / ˈræd ɪ kəˌlaɪz /

especially British, radicalise

verb (used with object)

• radicalizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• radicalized,
  past participle,  past
• radicalizing
  present participle

1. to make radical or more radical, as in politics.

   young people who are being radicalized by extremist philosophies.

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verb (used without object)

• radicalizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• radicalized,
  past participle,  past
• radicalizing
  present participle

1. to become radical or more radical.

   The regime has increasingly radicalized since the coup.

radicalize British  

/ ˈrædɪkəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to make (a person) more radical

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• radicalization
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• radicalizing
  present
• radicalized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• radicalize
  simple
• radicalizes
  simple
• have radicalized
  perfect
• has radicalized
  perfect
• am radicalizing
  progressive
• are radicalizing
  progressive
• is radicalizing
  progressive
• have been radicalizing
  perfect progressive
• has been radicalizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• radicalized
  simple
• had radicalized
  perfect
• was radicalizing
  progressive
• were radicalizing
  progressive
• had been radicalizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will radicalize
  simple
• will have radicalized
  perfect
• will be radicalizing
  progressive
• will have been radicalizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of radicalize

First recorded in 1815–20; radical + -ize

Explanation

To radicalize someone is to shift a person or group's opinions toward either end of the political spectrum. The word comes up a lot during times of political upheaval or revolution when people’s opinions stray far from the mainstream. To radicalize people is to cause a shift in their beliefs that make them want to take action for social reform. Once they’re radicalized, they'll want big political or social changes and work to make them happen. Personal experience is often radicalizing — sexism, racism, poverty, and perceived injustices radicalize many people to try to change the world. The word can have a darker meaning when radicalization leads to politically motivated violence.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

radicalize radicalizes radicalized radicalizing

This would radicalize even the most principled 20-something.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025

The military presence there helped radicalize young Islamic militants such as Osama bin Laden.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2025

They get circulated on an endless loop in real time and those images can both revolt but also radicalize.

From Slate ● Sep. 12, 2025

This kind of thing should indeed radicalize us toward healthy material action if we have anything of a conscience left.

From Salon ● Dec. 31, 2023

Bardhi said the opposition would radicalize its protests but did not elaborate.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 20, 2023

"We need to have a broader discussion about how the 'extinction risk' rhetoric radicalizes the most vulnerable individuals," Weiss-Blatt said.

From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026

An attractive, confident Manhattanite with a full schedule of activism, classes and volunteering, she radicalizes Bob, taking him to civil rights speeches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2024

“Our research consistently shows that deplatforming people pushes them underground and only radicalizes them more,” Mr. Sohn said.

From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2022

“Those people are also living in the U.K. and being fed misinformation that is dangerous, that radicalizes people,” Haugen said.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 25, 2021

Misha radicalizes Tamerlan, according to Tamerlan's uncle and Tamerlan's brother-in-law.

From Slate ● Apr. 25, 2013

But officials didn’t provide any details about the writings or ideology, adding that they were still going through electronic devices and examining the suspects’ online presence to determine how they were radicalized.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

The insurgency, which began in 2012, is led by Iyad ag Ghali, a former Marlboro-puffing rock ‘n’ roller who became radicalized and banned music from the territories he controls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

"With Artificial Intelligence, though, it feels more extreme," she added, noting that Moreno-Gama was radicalized through the "'AI existential risk' rhetoric" rather than its employment or environmental impacts.

From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026

The question of how Spencer Pittman was radicalized is, so far, a slightly confounding one.

From Slate ● Jan. 22, 2026

“You never know, man. I mean, people get radicalized, right? Maybe somebody knows something about that dude that we don’t. You should have seen him yesterday when he got into it with Drew.”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Critics blamed doomsday rhetoric for radicalizing young men, while the movement itself, including Stop AI, denounced violence and tried pivoting to a gentler brand of advocacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

“If the rationale had been to combat misinformation or protect against algorithms radicalizing people into terroristic behavior, I’d be like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this,’” she says.

From Science Magazine ● Mar. 18, 2024

Last month, victims’ relatives filed a lawsuit claiming tech and social media giants such as Facebook, Amazon and Google bear responsibility for radicalizing Gendron.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 16, 2023

"And that has the potential of radicalizing people into extremist ideas."

From Salon ● May 6, 2023

At this point, you might ask: If there’s no proof the algorithm played any role in radicalizing or inciting the terrorists, why did the plaintiffs mention it at all?

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2023