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
Even for those who work in international institutions, there could also be a price to pay for an illiberal America.
—
Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
By contrast, Bondi’s vow of wrathful punishment is profoundly illiberal, suggesting a lust for criminal vengeance.
—Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Older Western societies are presented as inherently illiberal, to be contrasted unfavorably with the perfectly liberal society promised by the prophets of the progressive future.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
And within many democracies, the old assumptions that undergirded politics are in doubt; liberalism appears to be in disarray and illiberal forces on the rise.
—Daron Acemoglu, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
By contrast, Bondi’s vow of wrathful punishment is profoundly illiberal, suggesting a lust for criminal vengeance.
—Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Older Western societies are presented as inherently illiberal, to be contrasted unfavorably with the perfectly liberal society promised by the prophets of the progressive future.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
And within many democracies, the old assumptions that undergirded politics are in doubt; liberalism appears to be in disarray and illiberal forces on the rise.
—Daron Acemoglu, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberal
Adjective
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Necks craning to the back of the hall, a hush fell over the small parochial church of Santa María Trinitá on the African island of São Tomé.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Any negative pushback in this moment will be interpreted as a small-minded and eminently self-serving response that puts parochial party interests above the interests of the country.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Plus Yosh Nijman, Ekwonu’s backup and the Panthers’ swing tackle, suddenly retired earlier this month — flinging the Panthers’ offensive line plan into even narrower straits.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
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As deductions narrow and dependents age out, Roth withdrawals become one of the cleanest sources of tax-free income available for the 62-to-70 age group.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season after getting in a heated back-and-forth with Magic center Goga Bitadze, alleging afterward that Bitadze made a vulgar remark in Serbian to him about his family.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
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The victim's mother allegedly told police that Paljusevic made vulgar comments to the body of the victim's father at the public viewing.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of the district's smallest elementary schools now serve only a couple of hundred students, limiting available resources.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Higher bond yields ripple through all kinds of credit markets, making everything from mortgages to small-business loans more expensive.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The most prominent Republicans publicly making a forceful case for foreign-policy restraint are the most bigoted ones.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Some writers have noted that attacking Jewish influence can become a moral duty rather than a bigoted act.—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The beloved slapstick comedy is 85 minutes of pure entertainment, full of increasingly chaotic adventures and shockingly crass jokes that still produce guffaws decades later.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
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In a not crass way, no matter what your vice of choice is, someone who enables that behavior, even just by being there, is a really relatable idea.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Kansas’ public officials should avoid the distractions of petty prejudices and focus on representing all their citizens.—
Darren Rosenblum,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Joe Cole, late of Peaky Blinders, plays Ethan, a former petty teen gangster from Las Vegas who has decamped to Los Angeles and made an honest man of himself.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This inquiry into police corruption stems from a dramatic news conference last year by a provincial police officer, who accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and senior police officers of having links with organized crime.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
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Saturday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of two games available for purchase against their provincial rival, and the Pittsburgh Penguins (on Thursday), purely off the allure of Sidney Crosby and the fans who come to see him and his star teammates, is part of the offer.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberal. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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