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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
Do not let a liberal see a woman smiling while wearing a short denim skirt. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2025 That’s probably why liberals enthusiastic over South Park right now should probably cool it with the savior worship. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
For instance, the conservative rural North State would be denied any real representation as the district would swoop down to take in Marin County, the liberal bastion just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 19 Aug. 2025 Still, the affiliation between a news division that tries to play it safe and one that doesn’t hide its liberal bent has long caused tension. Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberal
Adjective
  • United wanted a goalkeeper who could reshape the way the team built from the back, act as an extra outfield player and push them toward a more progressive style of play.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Yet the party’s soul-searching has inspired a robust discussion in left-leaning digital media circles about the path forward, which is clearly fueling interest in liberal and progressive writers, podcasters, and posters.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
    Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Less a diner than a throwback 1940s soda shop, the lunch-dinner joint plays Great American Songbook oldies and serves marinated skirt steak, fork-tender baby back ribs and meatloaf in mushroom gravy with generous mounds of mashed potatoes.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The investigation went public in July after federal prosecutors empaneled a grand jury and issued subpoenas to several nonprofits and the Department of Economic and Community Development, the principal state conduit for delivering taxpayer money to charitable organizations.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The fight was one of the most astonishing diplomatic meetings in modern presidential history.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Reviewing history, the likelihood is the antiquated blast furnaces and systems in place will be demolished and replaced with modern technology involving robotics or they will simply be demolished to eliminate competition.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Activities are plentiful here including a stunning golf course.
    Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Hotels and condominium resorts are plentiful in Puerto Peñasco's tourist areas such as Sandy Beach, Playa Bonita and Playa Hermosa.
    Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • CEOs take on all sorts of personas, from the benevolent leader to the cutthroat business executive.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
  • Its land is farmed communally, and its lord, Master Kent (Harry Melling), is a benevolent soul who prefers coaxing and rewarding to ordering and punishing.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Padres will deploy lefty reliever Wandy Peralta as an opener Friday night.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Fellow prospects Payton Tolle (No. 2) and Connelly Early (No. 6), both lefties, are also in Triple-A and could emerge as options as well.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • As Peter Singer has argued for decades, doing the most good shouldn’t be radical.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Some other notable attacks at US military bases in recent years include: On November 5, 2009, an Army psychiatrist with radical Islamist beliefs opened fire at a processing center at Fort Hood, a major US Army post, in Texas, killing 13 people and an unborn child, and wounding more than 30 others.
    Hanna Park, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Liberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberal. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

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