ILLIBERALISMS Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

illiberalism

noun

(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm

Definition of illiberalism

as in illiberality

stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices They each accused the other of a form of illiberalism.

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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 illiberalism The signal predicament of our era is the global rise of illiberalism and intolerance. — Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026 Journalist Anne Applebaum has documented how elites accommodate themselves to illiberalism, finding advantage in proximity to power even as institutions decay. — Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026 One of the abiding strengths of any genuinely liberal order—domestic or international—is that within it illiberalism can exist, and do damage, without posing an existential threat to it. — Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 Space warfare, cyber defense, mass migration, corruption, and illiberalism require fluency, adaptability, empathy, and collaboration. — Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illiberalism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberalism

Noun

And yet, most describe a campus not consumed by bigotry but having a vibrant Jewish community – and a university that has made missteps but seems committed to building something new.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026
As a piece of theater, the dialogue between the two men often lands on the heart like a wry, platonic romance — and the moments in which both take a stand against the bigotry of some of Seastone’s callers are suddenly and acutely poignant.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of bigotry

Noun

Are the Norwegian authorities concerned for children’s safety — or are they offended by this family’s rigidly patriarchal beliefs, which include intolerance toward homosexuality?

— Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
The devastating loss of the coast has opened up the path for a change in the Saudis’ intolerance for dissent within the anti-Houthi coalition, however.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of intolerance

Noun

When authenticity becomes uncompromising, candor turns belligerent, consistency becomes rigid, or principled decision-making morphs into dogmatism, even the best intentions can backfire.

— Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
By staying so close to black metal’s core sound, Marchenko does more to undermine the dogmatism—both racial and aesthetic—of Vikernes and his ilk than a more obviously experimental project might.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026

Definition of dogmatism

Noun

Co-existence with extraterrestrials has seen humans revert to old habits of prejudice and apartheid; crime and corruption are rampant as ever; pop-up ads now irksomely manifest as holograms in your personal space.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Religion, fear, prejudice, affection, money, family history, and bewilderment can crowd the same room.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of prejudice

Noun

Known for her mastery of the bias cut, Vionnet created clothing that mirrored the natural movement of the body, while her innovative approach to cut and construction marked a move away from the structured Edwardian fashions of the prewar period.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
The biases also influenced decisions involving employment, investment and criminal behavior the models made at the researchers’ prompting.

— Ashique KhudaBukhsh, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of bias

Noun

That narrow-mindedness is immediately apparent when Nick asks his congregation to help the group of unhoused people, a little over a dozen souls or so, who live in a makeshift camp on the edge of town.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Mann loves a man with an obsession, but this sentiment is about expanding that narrow-mindedness to make space in our lives for others.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026

Definition of narrow-mindedness

Noun

More Democratic voters fled partisanship altogether over the past two years than Republicans, data show.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
The movie is about Facebook’s role and the rise of divisiveness, extremism, and hyper-partisanship in the country.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of partisanship

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“Illiberalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberalism. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of illiberalism

noun

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