1
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another
the 20th century saw many African countries become free after many years of European rule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in liberated
no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful
after our son arrived home safely, we were grateful to be free from worry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in loose
not bound, confined, or detained by force
all of the animals in the game preserve are free to roam all over its vast area
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in costless
not costing or charging anything
although the museum normally charges admission, on Wednesdays it is free to all
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in cleared
allowing passage without obstruction
make sure the pass is free before you attempt the trip through the mountains this winter
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6
as in generous
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation
the lottery winner was very free with his money
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7
as in off
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
this computer terminal is free if you need to use it
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8
as in familiar
showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty
she's a little too free with information about her social life
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9
as in single
not physically attached to another unit
an arrangement of free columns adds interest to the Greco-Roman sculpture garden
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1
as in to liberate
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
a global crusade to free Nelson Mandela from a South African prison had emerged
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2
as in to open
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions
we'll free the river by breaking up the ice jam
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3
as in to clear
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way
would you mind freeing up the work area so I can work?
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4
as in to rid
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers
a phone call would free your parents from worry
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5
as in to save
to set free from entanglement or difficulty
this plan should free us from debt
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of free
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 May 2026
The town itself is also part of the appeal, with fun restaurants like The Whale’s Rib and shops like Island Water Sports, which sells beach gear and has been offering free surfing lessons every Saturday morning for the past 30 years.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
The process of freeing these components from basalt looks more like a refining or recycling process than the toss-it-in-the-oven simplicity of the limestone process.
—Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for free
Adjective
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—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 May 2026
The town itself is also part of the appeal, with fun restaurants like The Whale’s Rib and shops like Island Water Sports, which sells beach gear and has been offering free surfing lessons every Saturday morning for the past 30 years.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Verb
The original version would have freed up money for other state spending priorities, but sponsors narrowed the measure to keep it education-specific.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
The process of freeing these components from basalt looks more like a refining or recycling process than the toss-it-in-the-oven simplicity of the limestone process.
—Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for free
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free
Adjective
-
Jeffries first looked to California, where an independent commission had drawn a map that, in 2024, gave Democrats forty-three of the state’s fifty-two congressional seats.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
By the start of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman second season in the fall of 1976, the show had expanded to 125 independent markets, now putting it in front of a potential fifty-five million households.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Freyre said he's been dreaming of a liberated Cuba since almost immediately after Castro took over.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The movie includes footage of real historical tragedies — harrowing video from liberated concentration camps — along with contemporaneous ones, like the crash of PSA Flight 182, which happened less than two months before Faces of Death was released.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, the actress, 79, wore a loose blouse and loafers with a pair of pinstripe slacks, which added a posh twist to her look.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you’re not caught outside.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
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.—
Alex Heard,
Outside,
4 Mar. 2026
-
What counts as a cleared sidewalk?—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
1 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Clarify the goal, assign the next step, and keep the tone generous.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
For families Aside from generous room and suite sizes, there are the simple things like kids menus at the restaurants and a cute farm animal stuffie for children to select at check-in.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Beyond that Constitutional requirement, Census numbers and their off-year demographic studies are used for a wide range of research and economic reports.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
The apparent demise of the Voting Rights Act and its immediate effects come after almost a year of extraordinary off-cycle attempts to gerrymander maps around the country.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
As criticism over competitive disparities intensified following the meet, pro-trans activists pushed back with the familiar argument that inclusion matters more than results, while opponents argued female athletes lose opportunities in the process.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
As the adrenaline levels rose on Monday and Tuesday, and the familiar choreography of another British political crisis began to play out—ministerial resignations, spiky statements on X—the collateral damage that Starmer had warned against started to encroach, once again, upon the scene.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Upon arrival, officers located a person with a single gunshot wound.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
By the time Yohel Pozo hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning, the Lumberjacks had other fans — and even the mascot Fredbird — joining in on the ruckus.—
Warren Mayes,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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