as in generously
in a generous manner
she spread frosting liberally over the cake until it oozed over the edges
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Recent Examples of liberally
To clean grout, pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray grout liberally.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Most of the space is dimly lit, with spotlights that accentuate Thomas’s signature strass ornamentation—liberally applied not only to the outlines of her Black female figures, but also to their ruby-red lips, lustrous hair, the lines between their toes, and the surrounding decorative patterns.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2025
The trainings have evolved after federal agents in Chicago were accused of liberally deploying tear gas and pepper balls on protesters and other bystanders, Garvey said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
That could involve Siakam resting liberally in the late winter and early spring of 2026.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2025
Nathan leans heavily into his own Orthodox Coptic Christian upbringing and borrows liberally from the rather obscure text of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas with material absent from the New Testament.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Trump has borrowed liberally (or perhaps more accurately, illiberally) from Orbán’s playbook for autocratic capture, and now Orbán is seeking favors in return.
—Kim Lane Scheppele, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The first major Frankenstein film liberally adapts the source material, but in lieu of staging the novel as written, James Whale leans into expressionistic production design and Gothic spectacle.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Writing at a time when there was little American literature to speak of, Irving borrowed liberally from European sources.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Most of the space is dimly lit, with spotlights that accentuate Thomas’s signature strass ornamentation—liberally applied not only to the outlines of her Black female figures, but also to their ruby-red lips, lustrous hair, the lines between their toes, and the surrounding decorative patterns.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2025
The trainings have evolved after federal agents in Chicago were accused of liberally deploying tear gas and pepper balls on protesters and other bystanders, Garvey said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
That could involve Siakam resting liberally in the late winter and early spring of 2026.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2025
Nathan leans heavily into his own Orthodox Coptic Christian upbringing and borrows liberally from the rather obscure text of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas with material absent from the New Testament.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Trump has borrowed liberally (or perhaps more accurately, illiberally) from Orbán’s playbook for autocratic capture, and now Orbán is seeking favors in return.
—Kim Lane Scheppele, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The first major Frankenstein film liberally adapts the source material, but in lieu of staging the novel as written, James Whale leans into expressionistic production design and Gothic spectacle.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Writing at a time when there was little American literature to speak of, Irving borrowed liberally from European sources.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberally
Adverb
-
Their laughter, energy, and spirit said everything about living fully — and giving generously — at any age.—
Norman B. Gildin,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Spray generously on the sink and scrub it in with a cleaning sponge.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Strength, endurance, agility and mental toughness are tested in constantly changing combinations designed to reward the most well-rounded performers.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In Southern cuisine, a main dish is best complemented by a host of incredible side dishes.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Liberally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberally. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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