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
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Recent Examples of illiberalism
Orban and Putin once shared a close working relationship, grounded in energy deals and mutual illiberalism.
—
Nic Cheeseman, 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
If so, or even if not, the results of illiberalism by governmental bodies on both sides of the Atlantic are clear for all to see.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Hazony’s main project, the National Conservatism conference, has served as a hub connecting various different strands of illiberalism to each other and to power.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for illiberalism
Nic Cheeseman, 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
If so, or even if not, the results of illiberalism by governmental bodies on both sides of the Atlantic are clear for all to see.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Hazony’s main project, the National Conservatism conference, has served as a hub connecting various different strands of illiberalism to each other and to power.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for illiberalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberalism
Noun
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Using immigrants as a shield against public safety is a classic example of the soft bigotry of low expectations.—
Sameer Butt,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
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According to The Times, the documentary covers allegations that Chase, who had become frustrated with his character’s escalating bigotry and a scene in which the character uses a hand puppet wearing blackface, said a racial slur when asking whether his character would be made to say it next.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Since being diagnosed with a number of maladies over the years, including hypothyroidism, leaky gut and a gluten intolerance, McCarthy has been on a quest to put better things not only in her body but on her body.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
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In a related phenomenon, many people in East Asia have an intolerance to alcohol caused by a genetic variation that came about relatively recently during the period of rice domestication.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And many folks thought that that was a type of dogmatism and inflexibility that was not productive.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
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That — metaphorically and literally — is earned dogmatism, the risk that expertise breeds rigidity in our thinking and decision-making.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Supreme Court of New York subsequently ruled that the case be discontinued with prejudice, meaning that it cannot be filed again.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Jan. 2026
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Research has shown that having contact with those outside our own group reduces prejudice and increases trust and the willingness to forgive, which is fundamental to our growth both individually and collectively.—
Arianna Huffington,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And there is also the power of confirmation bias.—
Lauren Wilson,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
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Was there a regional bias at play?—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Civilized values worth fighting for Moreover, America’s justice system must be delivered from partisanship and corruption.—
Max Hastings,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
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Here in California, our determination to defend our own laws, to hold fast to climate protections and civil rights, felt no longer like partisanship but survival.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illiberalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberalism. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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