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revolutionary
This term carries a high-energy charge, suggesting a total break from the past rather than a gradual improvement. When used in a technical or commercial sense, it implies a paradigm shift that renders previous methods obsolete, though it is frequently overused in marketing to exaggerate a product's novelty. In a political context, the word evokes images of upheaval, defiance, and the risky pursuit of a new social order. It suggests a level of intensity and systemic change that is far more aggressive than "reformist" or "progressive," which typically seek to fix a system from within.
Countable when referring to a specific person who leads a revolt. Uncountable when describing the general quality of being innovative or disruptive.
Meanings
Involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.
"The invention of the internet was a revolutionary development."
A person who advocates or participates in a political revolution.
"The revolutionary spent years plotting to overthrow the monarchy."