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noun

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

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 liberal
Adjective
Justice Amy Coney Barrett sided with the court's conservatives save Chief Justice John Roberts, who sided with the court's three liberals. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025 Critics have been asking whether, with Liberals like these, one even needs Conservatives, or ones like Poilievre, at least. David Moscrop, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
There’s plenty of room in the liberal tent for debate and discussion. Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025 Russian power is limited to establishing a Eurasian sphere of influence across its former Soviet republics and disrupting liberal democracies. John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberal
Adjective
  • The Mynatts are among the rising ranks of parents and caregivers frustrated by one-size-fits-all schooling who are seeking something more aligned with their values and viewpoints—whether progressive or conservative.
    Kerry McDonald, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • In the 1990s, Bill was decades of biblical study away from that progressive stance.
    Sam Gillette, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That Golden Quartet The chemistry between the four leads was undeniable — especially during those late-night kitchen table conversations, always over a generous slice of cheesecake.
    Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Hot Cheesy Crab Dip There’s no quicker way to please a crowd than with Grandma’s cheese dip, and this recipe happens to include a generous helping of crab meat.
    Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Decluttering your own home might not be motivating on its own, but supporting charitable organizations, reducing landfill waste, and helping others find affordable essentials through donating to thrift stores often does the trick.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Prosecutors said the former president sought to illegally retain power after losing the 2022 election to Lula, a veteran leftist who returned to the presidency after previously serving two terms.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement In Chile, another leftist, President Gabriel Boric, has endured broad criticism over his government’s inability to address the country’s rising murder rate.
    Christopher Sabatini, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Information operations and psychological warfare are a key component of modern war — and arguably nowhere is this truer than in the Israel-Islamist conflict.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Watch a modern student tackle an assignment.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Right now is the perfect time to hop on these early Prime Day deals because though the discounts will be plentiful when Prime Big Deal Days officially kicks off in October, these early deals may not last.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Matcha is still plentiful in China, another major producer, but labor shortages and high demand have also raised prices there.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • To achieve excellence in AI, nations need the compute, but also chip production, AI talent, workforce and corporate adoption, benevolent government regulation, and a thriving ecosystem of AI startups.
    John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • And of course Wendy tells Nibs the truth, putting them both on guard against the manipulations of their seemingly benevolent guardians.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After Cincinnati Reds All-Star Andrew Abbott had more runs on his line score than innings in Friday’s loss to the New York Mets, Reds manager Terry Francona noted that the 26-year-old lefty hadn’t lost his stuff, but his swagger.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The Boston bats jumped out to an immediate 5-0 lead against ex-Red Sox lefty Jeffrey Springs in the first two innings.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Liberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberal. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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