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
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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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 release
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 liberate
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
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of free
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
Available in sizes ranging from S to 4XL Big, there’s no shortage of options available, and a blend of cotton and polyester keeps them soft, comfy, and wrinkle-free.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
Officials say the technology keeps getting more advanced and easier to use, which helps free up other resources.
—Kennedy Hayes, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free
Adjective
This could be the week Coker breaks free, and even if not, the odds are quite friendly.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
Available in sizes ranging from S to 4XL Big, there’s no shortage of options available, and a blend of cotton and polyester keeps them soft, comfy, and wrinkle-free.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
Witnesses who’d seen the crash helped the officers push the car up enough to free the infant.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
Officials say the technology keeps getting more advanced and easier to use, which helps free up other resources.
—Kennedy Hayes, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free
Adjective
-
The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content.—
Calesa Township,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Then, as president, Joe Biden twice said that the people of Taiwan should decide whether to be independent.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Millions remain far from liberated from economic pressure, and few of us feel burdened by an excess of free time.—
Arianna Huffington,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Translation: this is cosmic support for becoming a more expansive, liberated version of you — one who knows their worth and isn’t afraid to explore new horizons.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The loose fit is perfect for layering, too, and packs down surprisingly well.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
-
That said, shoppers note that the sweater is tight-fitting and recommend sizing up for a looser fit, similar to Paltrow’s knit.—
Melony Forcier,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Costanzo said Ferrante was generous and gave him a favorable rights deal to attempt an adaptation.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The service was crisp, the portions were highly generous (don’t miss the breakfast buffet).—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
On the right side of the room, a steel cut image is projected from the wall with fiberglass rods arranged in an off center trapezoid.—
Mario Rodriguez,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
And then the third Wednesday is an off week.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Here, Hunter returns to a familiar figure in Stock’s Ethan, a writer who made it out of small-town Idaho for college and then a life in Seattle, but whose career is flagging and bank account is running dry.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But those who’ve watched the Blackhawks on a nightly basis know Spencer Knight has been masking some familiar defensive deficiencies.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For players, the potential advantages include a much larger accessible library, the combination of local hardware, cloud, and PC options in a single device, and stronger peripheral and mod support typical of Windows.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
-
It’s built to resist pesky tangles, power through daily messes with super-strong suction, and run up to 50 minutes on a single charge.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An internal investigation by Kenvue Brands LLC, the company that owns Neutrogena, revealed the brand’s Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes tested positive for a bacteria known as pluralibacter gergoviae, per information released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The White House did not release the size of the donations for all 37 listed.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Free.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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