NYT Dictionary

RADICAL

/ˈɹædɪkəl/

AdjectiveNounRAD-i-calrad-i-cal · 3 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026

Meaning

Of or pertaining to the root of a plant.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

PIE word *wréh₂ds Inherited from Middle English radical, from Latin rādīcālis (“of or pertaining to the root, having roots, radical”). Compare grassroots.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

fundamentalprimitiveradsemantophorecomponentJacobinJacobinicJacobinicalgroup root

Antonyms

ignorabletrivialderivativederivedcauline

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

2026-03-15LARDCIY
2024-03-24RALDCIO