1
as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in narrow
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints
some of the more illiberal residents were opposed to having a hospice for AIDS patients in the neighborhood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vulgar
archaic
lacking in refinement or good taste
people who had been scorned as illiberal because they were poor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illiberal
This election could reshape not just Hungary but signal a broader European rejection of the illiberal, nationalist movements Orbán inspired among the global far-right.
—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Scholars of comparative authoritarianism have long identified the selective application of harsh criminal penalties as a hallmark of illiberal governance.
—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
As Orbán over the past decade took a forceful stance against migrants and refugees and proclaimed himself Europe's champion of illiberal Christian democracy, Budapest became a magnet for American conservatives.
—
Catherine Belton The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
6 Apr. 2026
The remoteness of the imperial government at Vienna and an increasingly illiberal regime soon aroused discontent in Austria’s Italian province.
—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Scholars of comparative authoritarianism have long identified the selective application of harsh criminal penalties as a hallmark of illiberal governance.
—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
As Orbán over the past decade took a forceful stance against migrants and refugees and proclaimed himself Europe's champion of illiberal Christian democracy, Budapest became a magnet for American conservatives.
—
Catherine Belton The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
6 Apr. 2026
The remoteness of the imperial government at Vienna and an increasingly illiberal regime soon aroused discontent in Austria’s Italian province.
—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberal
Adjective
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In the most parochial place that ever was or ever will be, authenticity functions as a means of psychic gatekeeping, and someone who doesn’t speak the lingua Francona isn’t someone who’s worth listening to when the game’s on.
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Of course, the ever-parochial instincts of Chicago, where neighborhood loyalties rule and aldermen are fiercely protective of their ward domains, means the decision on the location of any future Leo landmark could be contentious.
Adjective
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The narrow win pushed Morocco into first place in Group C, all but securing a spot in the knockout rounds for the 2022 World Cup semifinalists.
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Just outside downtown, this narrow stretch of former warehouses is now lined with markets, mom-and-pop shops and restaurants that spill onto the sidewalks all summer long.
Adjective
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In recent years, Trae Young has repeatedly tormented the Knicks at the famed Madison Square Garden, turning clutch shots and postgame showmanship into vulgar chants from New York fans.
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This isn’t about the vulgar prices now being charged to get into the building and Celebrity Row.
Adjective
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After selling baklava at the Stock Show, the Unlus rented their first resraurant space in a small Eighth Avenue food hall.
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The Virgo moon asks you to focus on the small tasks.
Adjective
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That means that, every once in a while, when someone is saying bigoted things or acting aggressively around other customers, they get kicked out.
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Conservative pundits and websites have amplified MLB's initial statement and called the league intolerant, bigoted and divisive.
Adjective
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Like a more crass, animated Seinfeld, Rocko deals with the mundanities and absurdities of daily life.
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With the games having kicked off, the sport has shown its ineffable power to supplant crass and capitalistic overreach.
Adjective
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Instead, Defendants appear to be actively undermining the restoration of the Kennedy Center’s name, in a petty act of defiance.
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The two deaths join a long list of other instances of Black Americans dying in interactions with police after accusations of petty criminal offenses.
Adjective
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Online databases, provincial vital records offices, and archives help reconstruct the family chain.
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The court convicted the two defendants after a trial that was initially held in Gwadar and later moved to a high-security prison in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, because of security concerns.
Cite this Entry
“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberal. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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