R
radicalism* (RAD i kil IZ im) n. 1. the quality or state of being extreme, espe-
cially in political matters; 2. extreme in principles, ideas, methods, etc.
- Senator Brown’s penchant for radicalismbrought him the admiration of his
friends and the distrust of his enemies. - The surgeon’s reputation for radicalismmade his patients think twice
before assenting to go under the knife.
rancorously(RAN kir uhs lee) adv. maliciously; spitefully; with continuous bit-
ter ill will or hatred - The argument continued rancorouslyas each side showed its contempt for
the other. - Peter treated double-parkers rancorouslyby letting the air out of their tires.
[rancorous adj.]
raucous (RAW kuhs) adj. 1. hoarse; rough sounding; 2. loud and bawdy - The revelers had a raucousgood time as they partied the night away.
- Gerald had a raucouslaugh that reminded the average bystander of how a
grizzly bear might laugh.
[-ly adv., -ness n.]
reaction*(ree AK shin) n. 1. an opposing action or force; 2. a response to a
stimulus; 3. a moving backward to an earlier time’s condition or way of doing
things; extreme conservatism - Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal
and opposite reaction. - When suddenly poked, it is a natural reactionto jump.
- The forces of reactionwould move the country back to horse-and-buggy
times.
reactionary(ree AK shin ER ee) adj. characteristic of or advocating definition 3
of reaction—n.one who advocates same - Reactionaryforces wish to return the country’s economy to the gold
standard. - The political opposite of a radical is a reactionary.
[reactionaries pl.]
rebellious(ri BEL yis) adj. 1. resisting authority; engaged in armed resistance
against the government; 2. of or like rebels; 3. opposing all control; defiant; 4.
difficult to treat - There is usually one rebelliousgroup or another trying to overthrow a
government in Central America. - Teenagers frequently become rebelliousagainst parental authority around
age 17. - Dan struggled with a very rebelliouscowlick of hair.
[-ly adv., -ness n.]
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