1
as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in narrow
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints
some of the more illiberal residents were opposed to having a hospice for AIDS patients in the neighborhood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vulgar
archaic
lacking in refinement or good taste
people who had been scorned as illiberal because they were poor
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Recent Examples of illiberal
These illiberal states vary widely in their ideologies but are building a larger web of financial, military, technological, and diplomatic ties in their common efforts to evade Western sanctions and stay in power.
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Foreign Affairs, 22 Oct. 2024
With the rising tide of democratic setbacks, the growing assertiveness of Russia and China, and the electoral gains of illiberal populist parties and candidates in Europe and the United States, many observers feared the authoritarian trend was becoming a juggernaut.
—Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
Today illiberal populist movements threaten our democratic institutions in many parts of the world.
—Ian Simmons, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Only collective resolve in opposing the spread of illiberal political cultures can repel today’s authoritarian challengers and safeguard democracy — that’s the lesson of Matteotti’s assassination.
—Amy King & Brian J Griffith / Made By History, TIME, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for illiberal 
Foreign Affairs, 22 Oct. 2024
With the rising tide of democratic setbacks, the growing assertiveness of Russia and China, and the electoral gains of illiberal populist parties and candidates in Europe and the United States, many observers feared the authoritarian trend was becoming a juggernaut.
—Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
Today illiberal populist movements threaten our democratic institutions in many parts of the world.
—Ian Simmons, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Only collective resolve in opposing the spread of illiberal political cultures can repel today’s authoritarian challengers and safeguard democracy — that’s the lesson of Matteotti’s assassination.
—Amy King & Brian J Griffith / Made By History, TIME, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for illiberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberal
Adjective
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But parochial political feuds and byzantine zoning codes have hampered LA’s efforts to get more new housing off the ground.Carly Stern, Vox, 6 Dec. 2024
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Given the court's significance in international law, this case could have more of an impact than COP on countries' behavior and corporate policies — and on future legal action, compared to past more parochial climate cases.Andrew Freedman, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The looseness of it felt right with the narrow, short silhouette of the skirt.Chloe Malle, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2024
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Glass Window Bridge: This narrow strip of land is one of Eleuthera’s most iconic landmarks, connecting the calm Caribbean waters on one side to the dramatic Atlantic Ocean on the other.Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Deadpool & Wolverine was far more graphic and vulgar than previous Marvel Studios projects — but one of its especially dirty lines didn't make the cut.Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024
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With Election Day on the horizon, Elon Musk is leaning into violent and vulgar rhetoric.Bruna Horvath, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Many elderberry studies have been small and do not compare elderberry to other cold and flu symptom treatment options.Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH, Health, 1 Jan. 2025
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Arc’teryx Women's Atom Insulated Hoodie $300 $210 at REI Coming in at just 10.9 ounces and compressing down to be smaller than my beloved Cabeau travel pillow, the Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie is one of the most packable jackets on the market.Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Get Into the Holiday Spirit by Watching Mariah Carey Bake Christmas Cookies Famous for its iconic title song, 9 to 5 follows Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda as a trio of fiery secretaries who topple the tyranny of their sexist, bigoted boss (Dabney Coleman).Lauren Sanchez, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
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Two Hindu Americans who made presidential runs—Tulsi Gabbard and Vivek Ramaswamy—have already endured a litany of bigoted attacks.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Crass Words Any crass or overt mention of bodily functions, particularly those involved with reproduction—human, animal, or botanical.Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2024
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In 2013, Pearson’s state exams featured crass, commercial product placements as well as reading passages lifted from Pearson textbooks.Kemala Karmen, New York Daily News, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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My understanding has always been that the relic trade is loosely tolerated by the powers that be (many of whom have some pretty choice relics of their own), because one of the sneakiest ways authoritarian societies thrive is by letting their subjects get away with petty rebellions.Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
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As our profile lays out, the record reveals Billy Wagner as a blustery, bigger-than-life figure who engaged in petty crime and coached his family to do the same.Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The soldiers changed into civilian clothes, left their weapons and rode in a truck to the provincial capital.Carlotta Gall, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
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Advertisement On Friday, Russian authorities acknowledged that Ukrainian drones were targeting Grozny, provincial capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, as an Azerbaijani commercial airliner with 67 people aboard was attempting to land there on Wednesday.Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near illiberal
Cite this Entry
“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberal. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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