FREEDOM Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'freedom' different from other nouns like it?

The words liberty and license are common synonyms of freedom . While all three words mean "the power or condition of acting without compulsion," freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated. // freedom of the press

Q: When could 'liberty' be used to replace 'freedom'?

In some situations, the words liberty and freedom are roughly equivalent. However, liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion. // the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty

Q: In what contexts can 'license' take the place of 'freedom'?

While in some cases nearly identical to freedom , license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom. // freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

freedom

noun

ˈfrē-dəm

Definition of freedom

as in independence

the state of being free from the control or power of another we owe our freedom to the untold numbers of soldiers who have fought in our nation's wars since its founding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in latitude

the right to act or move freely as special guests of the owners, the youngsters had full freedom of the resort and its private beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word freedom different from other nouns like it?

The words liberty and license are common synonyms of freedom. While all three words mean "the power or condition of acting without compulsion," freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated.

freedom of the press

When could liberty be used to replace freedom?

In some situations, the words liberty and freedom are roughly equivalent. However, liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion.

the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty

In what contexts can license take the place of freedom?

While in some cases nearly identical to freedom, license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom.

freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

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 freedom Flying halfway around the world also will demonstrate France’s commitment to international law and the freedom of navigation in places where these principles face growing challenges such as the Middle East. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026 From arrival to farewell, our own driver-guides remained at their disposal, giving them the freedom to explore without ever thinking about logistics. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026 The survival drama follows four siblings left alone in a remote Canadian country house as a heatwave, power outage and mysterious lights turn their newfound freedom into something increasingly unsettling. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026 That year was going to roll off our three-year window this year, and that could have given us potentially a lot of freedom this summer. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for freedom

Recent Examples of Synonyms for freedom

Noun

Scotland's John Swinney and Northern Ireland's Michelle O'Neill called for independence referendums in their countries, while Rhun ap Iorwerth did not provide a timetable for one in Wales.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Several Central American nations including El Salvador and Guatemala also celebrate their independence in September.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of independence

Noun

Still, Webb’s hiring as offensive coordinator in February also gave him latitude to seek the kind of nuanced improvements that could help elevate a group that finished 14th in points scored last season.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The code of conduct provides the WNBA with substantial discretion and latitude.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of latitude

Noun

Abandoning the group at a moment when sovereignty over its own reserves is more contested than at any point since the 1970s would surrender political leverage without delivering additional export revenue the country desperately needs.

— Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
His persistent claims raised sovereignty concerns and caused resistance from Greenlandic and Danish leaders and heightened tensions among NATO allies.

— Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of sovereignty

Noun

Including Oregon State, UCAA has gotten more than 100 women’s college basketball players to sign union authorization cards.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026
In the days after the robbery, Triunfel looked up the police report on the case multiple times while off duty without authorization — and on Monday searched the NYPD database for his own name, according to the complaint.

— Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of authorization

Noun

Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.

— Barton Swaim, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2021
His seemingly daily attacks on freedom of speech, the independency of the judiciary, the right to vote and other pillars of our constitutional system are bolstered by an intensely loyal fan base.

— Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2020

Definition of independency

Noun

The tight ends can get back to blurring the run and the pass, with Stafford at the controls and Kyren Williams and Corum wearing defenses down between the tackles.

— Nate Atkins, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
American anti-immigrant politics consequently differs from the European version, remaining more closely bound to the Monroe Doctrine and its vision of hemispheric control.

— Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of control

Noun

And Majority Leader John Thune still could hold a roll-call vote on a data center power bill that Democrats blocked on Thursday.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Stone and Robert Icke, for example, have both built careers on transplanting old stories into slick contemporary containers, and, in varying degrees, those containers can come packed with power.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of power

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freedmen

freedom

freedoms

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“Freedom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freedom. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of freedom

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