illiberal

il·lib·er·al

adj \(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-b(ə-)rəl\

Definition of ILLIBERAL

: not liberal: as a archaic (1) : lacking a liberal education (2) : lacking culture and refinement b : not requiring the background of a liberal arts education <illiberal occupations> c archaic : not generous : stingy d : not broad-minded : bigoted <illiberal thinking> e : opposed to liberalism <illiberal tendencies>

— il·lib·er·al·i·ty \-ˌli-bə-ˈra-lə-tē\ noun

— il·lib·er·al·ly \-ˈli-b(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb

— il·lib·er·al·ness \-b(ə-)rəl-nəs\ noun

Examples of ILLIBERAL

1. an illiberal attitude toward sex
2. <an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent>

Origin of ILLIBERAL

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin illiberalis ignoble, stingy, from Latin in- + liberalis liberal

First Known Use: 1535

Related to ILLIBERAL

Synonyms: narrow, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded

Antonyms: broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant

Related Words: inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded; bigoted, intolerant; biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced; brass bound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced (or straightlaced), stuffy; dogmatic (also dogmatical), opinionated, opinionative; limited; hick, unsophisticated

Near Antonyms: impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced; freethinking

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide