Synonyms of liberal

liberal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈli-b(ə-)rəl 

1

as in progressive

not bound by traditional ways or beliefs

parents who take a very liberal attitude toward letting their children stay out late

Synonyms & Similar Words

• progressive
• modern
• radical
• unconventional
• contemporary
• nontraditional
• nonconventional
• broad-minded
• unorthodox
• open-minded
• advanced
• nonorthodox
• permissive
• tolerant
• lenient
• extreme
• impartial
• large-minded
• unbiased
• forbearing
• indulgent
• objective

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conservative
• traditional
• conventional
• orthodox
• rigid
• old-fashioned
• strict
• hard
• dogmatic
• stodgy
• doctrinal
• hidebound
• nonprogressive
• intolerant
• bigoted
• reactionary
• narrow-minded
• blinkered
• unreconstructed

2

as in generous

being more than enough without being excessive

he always puts liberal amounts of grated cheese on his pizza

Synonyms & Similar Words

• generous
• plentiful
• ample
• plenty
• enough
• abundant
• comfortable
• bountiful
• sufficient
• adequate
• plenteous
• bounteous
• all kinds of
• wealthy
• rich
• cornucopian
• extra
• thick on the ground
• surplus
• plump
• aplenty
• lavish
• fertile
• prolific
• supernumerary
• prodigal
• fecund
• blooming
• galore
• overflowing
• copious
• rife
• fruitful
• replete
• teeming
• luxuriant
• abounding
• profuse
• fulsome
• fat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimal
• inadequate
• lacking
• insufficient
• scant
• spare
• bare
• deficient
• wanting
• least
• meager
• small
• minimum
• stingy
• light
• slight
• sterile
• skimpy
• unproductive
• barren
• infertile
• unfruitful

3

as in charitable

giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation

a doctor who has been very liberal in dispensing low-cost care to patients who could not otherwise afford it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• generous
• charitable
• benevolent
• munificent
• unselfish
• handsome
• bountiful
• fulsome
• bounteous
• open
• compassionate
• unsparing
• unstinting
• kind
• openhanded
• humanitarian
• bighearted
• free
• hospitable
• philanthropic
• sympathetic
• lavish
• freehearted
• altruistic
• extravagant
• freehanded
• magnanimous
• profuse
• beneficent
• kindly
• overgenerous
• big
• good-hearted
• openhearted
• largehearted
• greathearted
• samaritan

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• selfish
• small
• parsimonious
• stingy
• cheap
• illiberal
• uncharitable
• ungenerous
• penurious
• miserly
• tight
• petty
• close
• tightfisted
• costive
• thrifty
• mean
• frugal
• spare
• sparing
• mingy
• chary
• closefisted
• desirous
• stinting
• avaricious
• avid
• mercenary
• rapacious
• acquisitive
• covetous
• envious
• itchy
• resentful
• grudging
• grasping
• begrudging
• hoggish
• stinting
• coveting

liberal

2 of 2

noun

as in leftist

Related Words

• leftist
• progressive
• lefty
• extremist
• reformist
• radical
• modern
• modernist
• revolutionary
• revolutionist
• reformer
• neophiliac
• bohemian
• ultramodernist

Dissimilar Words

• conservative
• reactionary
• fossil
• rightist
• fogy
• Tory
• stick-in-the-mud
• veteran
• right-winger
• dodo
• traditionalist
• old hand
• standpatter
• antediluvian
• fuddy-duddy
• conformist
• old-timer
• neocon
• Bourbon
• neoconservative
• archconservative
• square
• diehard
• stuffed shirt
• Colonel Blimp
• paleoconservative

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective liberal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of liberal are bountiful, generous, and munificent. While all these words mean "giving or given freely and unstintingly," liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

When could bountiful be used to replace liberal?

The words bountiful and liberal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

When is generous a more appropriate choice than liberal?

The synonyms generous and liberal are sometimes interchangeable, but generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

In what contexts can munificent take the place of liberal?

While the synonyms munificent and liberal are close in meaning, munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of liberal

Adjective

The speech was well-received by the liberal Tel Aviv University crowd, who applauded even when Emanuel condemned Israel’s policies, such as Netanyahu‘s role in not preparing for the day after in Gaza. — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

The struggle reshaped liberal thinking in comprehensive ways. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Noun

Barney Frank, the longtime Democratic congressman and leading liberal who brought new visibility to gay rights and crafted the most significant reforms to the financial system in a generation, has died. — Steven Sloan, Fortune, 20 May 2026

Republicans have worked to paint Talarico as a radical liberal who leans too far to the left to represent Texas. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 15 May 2026