What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Radical vs Conservative - What's the difference?

radical | conservative |

As adjectives the difference between radical and conservative

is that radical is favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter while conservative is tending to resist change or innovation.

As nouns the difference between radical and conservative

is that radical is a member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism) while conservative is a person who favors maintenance of the status quo or reversion to some earlier status.

As a proper noun Conservative is

conservative Party.

radical

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter.
  • His beliefs are radical .
  • (botany, not comparable) Pertaining to a root (of a plant).
  • Pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something.
  • * Burke
  • The most determined exertions of that authority, against them, only showed their radical independence.
  • Thoroughgoing.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
  • , author=Donald Worster , title=A Drier and Hotter Future , volume=100, issue=1, page=70 , magazine= citation , passage=Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.}}
    The spread of the cancer required radical surgery, and the entire organ was removed.
  • (linguistics, not comparable) Of or pertaining to the root of a word.
  • (linguistics, not comparable, of a sound) Produced using the root of the tongue.
  • (chemistry, not comparable) Involving free radicals.
  • (math) Relating to a radix or mathematical root.
  • a radical''' quantity; a '''radical sign
  • Excellent; awesome.
  • That was a radical jump!

    Derived terms

    * radicalness * radicality * radicalize * radically * radical empiricism * radical feminism * radical left * radical pluralism * radical reform * radical right * radical Islam * radical vinegar

    Synonyms

    * (pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something) fundamental

    Antonyms

    * (pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something) ignorable, trivial

    Coordinate terms

    * (produced with the root of the tongue) labial, coronal, dorsal, laryngeal

    Noun

    (en noun) (wikipedia radical)
  • A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism).
  • A member of an influential, centrist political party favouring moderate social reform, a republican constitution, and secular politics.
  • A person with radical opinions.
  • (arithmetic) A root (of a number or quantity).
  • (linguistics) In logographic writing systems as the Chinese writing system, the portion of a character (if any) that provides an indication of its meaning, as opposed to phonetic .
  • (linguistics) In Semitic languages, any one of the set of consonants (typically three) that make up a root.
  • (chemistry) A group of atoms, joined by covalent bonds, that take part in reactions as a single unit.
  • (organic chemistry) A free radical.
  • Derived terms

    * free radical * radical sign

    Anagrams

    * ----

    conservative

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who favors maintenance of the status quo or reversion to some earlier status.
  • (US, economics) A fiscal conservative
  • (US, politics) A political conservative
  • (US, social sciences) A social conservative.
  • Synonyms

    * traditionalist * right-winger

    Coordinate terms

    * moderate, liberal, progressive, libertarian, centrist

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Tending to resist change or innovation.
  • The curriculum committee at this university is extremely conservative .
  • Based on pessimistic assumptions.
  • At a conservative estimate, growth may even be negative next year.
  • (US, economics, politics, social sciences) Supporting some combination of fiscal, political or social conservatism.
  • (US, politics) Relating to the Republican Party, regardless of its conservatism.
  • (British, politics) Relating to the Conservative Party.
  • * 1830 , Quarterly Rev.
  • We have always been conscientiously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Conservative , party.
  • (physics, notcomp) Neither creating nor destroying a given quantity.
  • Having power to preserve in a safe or entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.
  • See also

    * ("conservative" on Wikipedia) * Labour Party * liberal * Republican party * Tory ----