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
as in sectarianism
stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices
liked the peace and quiet of small-town life but chafed at its social and religious illiberality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illiberal
Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
In 2015, the Syrian refugee crisis contributed to the destabilization of European politics, fueling Brexit and a rise in illiberal governance.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
After Trump became president in 2016, many worried that the Internet instead made previously liberal societies more illiberal, drenching publics with disinformation.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2025
Right now, the transnational movement of illiberal nationalism is more organized, united, and strategic in its collective actions than the liberal democratic movement.
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Adjective
In Italy, Putin has nurtured personal relations with the illiberal nationalist leader Matteo Salvini.
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
In 2015, the Syrian refugee crisis contributed to the destabilization of European politics, fueling Brexit and a rise in illiberal governance.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
After Trump became president in 2016, many worried that the Internet instead made previously liberal societies more illiberal, drenching publics with disinformation.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2025
Right now, the transnational movement of illiberal nationalism is more organized, united, and strategic in its collective actions than the liberal democratic movement.
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberal
Adjective
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Driven together by anti-Western grievance and their own parochial interests, China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia are creating substantial authoritarian scale.—
Kurt M. Campbell,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Apr. 2025
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The plum political prize, of course, will be deciding how congressional districts are drawn, perhaps giving this parochial court a major say in which party—and its preferred Speaker—gets to run the U.S. House.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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During the trial, Amélie testified that Depardieu grabbed her hips in a narrow corridor and started touching her, pointing to her buttocks, hip, and pubic area.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2025
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Sherrill has held a consistent yet narrow lead in recent surveys.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Climate change vandals spray-painted a Tesla car dealership in Manhattan on Tuesday to protest Elon Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but as police arrived, the activists could be seen cleaning off some of the vulgar writing.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Two of the protesters are facing counts including obstructing a law enforcement officer and simple battery on a law enforcement officer, while a third has been charged with using vulgar language, according to Acworth police.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Atkinson took up golf for the first time and renewed his connection to scientific research, not the least of which was how a small white ball repeatedly avoids a hole in the ground.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2025
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The Court of International Trade previously rejected the small businesses' request to temporarily pause the tariffs while their lawsuit went forward, but then quickly scheduled Tuesday’s court hearing to decide whether to rule against the tariffs or impose a longer-term pause.—
Dietrich Knauth,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Immortality offers a liberation that the Jim Crow-era South doesn’t, both for the Black characters and even the white ones, whose bigoted special status winds up narrowing their options.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
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As the series progresses, Hampton isn’t framed as a Black man cast aside by a bigoted society or a poor man whose only chance at the good life requires a bit of bad behavior.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Related Articles Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
10 May 2025
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Grand Theft Auto is famous for its crass, satirical sense of humor.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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Baffert had long operated under a cloud of suspicion inside and outside of racing, thanks in part to his larger-than-life public persona and his utter domination of the competition on the racetrack – not to mention a series of other petty drug infractions in big races leading up to the 2021 Derby.—
Katie Bo Lillis,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
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Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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British Columbia also moved to expand its provincial tax incentive, in the face of a severe downturn in film employment in recent years.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
9 May 2025
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The group said that as provincial supervisor in Chicago for the Augustinian order in 2000, Prevost allowed a priest accused of abusing at least 13 minors to live at the Augustinian order’s St. John Stone Friary in Hyde Park, half a block from St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School.—
Bob Ortega,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberal. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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