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Definition of liberalnext
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liberal

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noun

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
Americans, the historian Louis Hartz argued, embraced a common liberal tradition, built around a respect for democracy, property, and individual liberty. Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026 Perhaps most significant was Pratt’s approach to homelessness, which ran counter to the local liberal establishment’s policymaking consensus and implementation regime. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2026
Noun
The bromide has it that a liberal is a person who won’t take his own side in an argument. Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026 Her efforts to come to terms with polyamory are couched as a political project—part of being an open-minded liberal—as much as a romantic one. Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberal
Adjective
  • Geevarghese, the Our Revolution executive director, said local elections are often where political movements are first built, and that Mamdani has provided a blueprint for progressive candidates.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 16 June 2026
  • And the man who held the keys to that arsenal just happened to be one of the most progressive presidents black America has ever known.
    Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Its 12-foot ceiling leaves a generous stretch of space above the cabinets, which is filled with their favorite artworks, plants, and books.
    Aditi Sharma, Architectural Digest, 13 June 2026
  • And Alvarado may be generous with his height.
    Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 June 2026
  • More than 1,000 pounds of grocery and paper goods from Roy Pope were donated to the charitable organization.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Raman is more likely than Bass to pick up the voters who chose community organizer Rae Huang, a leftist who, like Raman, is a DSA member.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
  • In New York, an inspiring young leftist competed against a boorish, but experienced, former governor to replace a corrupt mayor.
    Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
Adjective
  • Walk through a gallery of bronze busts immortalizing the game's greatest players and learn about the evolution of the game from the days of leather helmets to modern gear.
    USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • That's far lower than the traditional 90-day window, and significantly lower than the more modern 45-day barrier.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Scavengers were plentiful on the more recent remains, with one whale fall hosting up to 2,840 organisms in a single square meter.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
  • Like most Travelon products, its anti-theft features—like locking zippers and a hidden pocket perfect for keeping a passport —are plentiful.
    Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • For Egyptians, crops would not grow without Horus and his benevolent eye shining down between the clouds.
    Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
  • The overflow doctor had benevolent eyes and doughy cheeks, like fresh loaves of bread.
    Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • The lefty was fading in his fourth inning.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
  • But, as Oilers pitching coach Adam Springston explained later, it was decided that junior lefty Duncan McLeod would start against Cathedral Catholic.
    Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 7 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Liberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberal. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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