LIBERAL Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'liberal' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of liberal are bountiful , generous , and munificent . While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given. // a teacher liberal with her praise

Q: When could 'bountiful' be used to replace 'liberal'?

The words bountiful and liberal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing. // children spoiled by bountiful presents

Q: When is 'generous' a more appropriate choice than 'liberal'?

The synonyms generous and liberal are sometimes interchangeable, but generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift. // a generous offer of help

Q: In what contexts can 'munificent' take the place of 'liberal'?

While the synonyms munificent and liberal are close in meaning, munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes. // a munificent foundation grant

liberal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈli-b(ə-)rəl

Definition of liberal next

as in progressive

not bound by traditional ways or beliefs parents who take a very liberal attitude toward letting their children stay out late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in generous

being more than enough without being excessive he always puts liberal amounts of grated cheese on his pizza

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in charitable

giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation a doctor who has been very liberal in dispensing low-cost care to patients who could not otherwise afford it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

liberal

2 of 2

noun

as in leftist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective liberal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of liberal are bountiful, generous, and munificent. While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

When could bountiful be used to replace liberal?

The words bountiful and liberal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

When is generous a more appropriate choice than liberal?

The synonyms generous and liberal are sometimes interchangeable, but generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

In what contexts can munificent take the place of liberal?

While the synonyms munificent and liberal are close in meaning, munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of liberal

Adjective

The same impulse undergirds Georgians’ repeatedly expressed preference for liberal democracy, which is valued not only on its own terms but also as a bulwark against Russian-style tyranny. —

Christian Caryl, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2024 Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that do not issue their electoral votes by a winner-takes-all model, and the Congressional district around Omaha leans liberal. —

Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024

Noun

His support of president-elect Donald Trump has been slammed by liberals, but praised by his base. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 During Barack Obama’s second term, American liberals shifted in a much more radically progressive direction on issues of race, gender, immigration, and identity generally. —

David Frum, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for liberal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberal

Adjective

Neither wanted to talk to IndieWire about the rapidly rising controversy (Leone didn’t respond to our request either), but their progressive views have been readily visible online for months.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Feb. 2025
The energetic resistance movement that emerged to oppose Mr. Trump’s 2016 election — and that delivered Democrats the House in a 2018 landslide — made progressive aspirations for racial and gender equity seem more within reach.

— Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025