How does the adjective free contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of free are autonomous, independent, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.
you're free to do as you like
When is it sensible to use autonomous instead of free?
While the synonyms autonomous and free are close in meaning, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.
in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous
When would independent be a good substitute for free?
In some situations, the words independent and free are roughly equivalent. However, independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.
the colony's struggle to become independent
When is sovereign a more appropriate choice than free?
The words sovereign and free are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.
separate and sovereign armed services
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of free
Adjective
But the judge stressed that the White House was free to proceed with underground work, including the construction of any bunkers, military installations and medical facilities.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Fortune,
15 Aug. 2026 Lanterns Rotten Tomatoes Second, this is only the second DCU project that is entirely free of James Gunn's writing or directing.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2026
Verb
Whether inventing the Bong-a-Tron or freeing themselves after hours trapped inside a Party City parking lot, these misadventures almost always hinge on weed.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
12 Aug. 2026 Sunnis wanted the release of Islamist militants while Shiites demanded drug dealers, mostly from Lebanon’s eastern Baalbek region where cannabis is planted, to be freed.—ABC News,
12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for free
Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, was forced to roll out a second artificial surface after the World Cup because its first attempt didn’t pass an independent lab test as required by the NFL and NFLPA.
—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Aug. 2026
Assessing the entries this year were a total of six panels, comprised of independent experts from across the industry, including top writers, authors and broadcasters from England and Scotland.
The right words could turn a loose idea into something real today.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Aug. 2026
The five-parter from Tiger King co-director Eric Goode features reptile dealers with a fondness for creepy crawlies and a loose connection to ethical and legal mores.
But this year, rumors suggest the company is doing away with this upgrade option amid the RAM crunch, or at least adding some fine print that would make customers pay for part of the usually gratis level-up.
Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.
The Bears will practice Sunday afternoon, which is expected to be mostly the first-team players who did not play in the game, before an off day Monday.
—
Kevin Fishbain,
New York Times,
16 Aug. 2026
Mehidy then produced a superb delivery that straightened past the bat of Beau Webster (5) and clipped the top of off stump to have Australia at 6-193, still trailing by 35 runs and with the tail exposed.
Financial firms are now gearing up to jump into the market in a different way, as executives like Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and KKR's Waldemar Szlezak see AI equipment attaining familiar money-making characteristics.
—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
11 Aug. 2026
If this sounds like a familiar issue to you, pack some extra Tylenol to be safe.
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