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

In that latter role, the liberal Wyman emerged as a voice of caution in the Democratic Party on the state’s unfunded liabilities for pensions and retiree health care. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026

But the anger over data centers and the growing anxiety about a technology that will take away young people’s jobs may be what pushes a truly populist politics into the liberal mainstream. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026

Noun

Over time, the court’s decision-making could grow more conservative in ways that Democrats and liberals fear could threaten reproductive freedom and other rights. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026

Lee, a liberal who espouses improved ties with North Korea, didn't specifically comment on the threats posed by the North. — CBS News, 26 May 2026