Synonym Chooser

How does the verb liberate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of liberate are emancipate, free, manumit, and release. While all these words mean "to set loose from restraint or constraint," liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

When would emancipate be a good substitute for liberate?

In some situations, the words emancipate and liberate are roughly equivalent. However, emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

Where would free be a reasonable alternative to liberate?

The words free and liberate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

When could manumit be used to replace liberate?

The meanings of manumit and liberate largely overlap; however, manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

When is it sensible to use release instead of liberate?

The words release and liberate can be used in similar contexts, but release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

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 liberate Ultimately, the greatest source of unity and cohesion among Tibetans is the freedom struggle to liberate their homeland from CCP rule. Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025 His messaging consistently demonstrates that true success is an inside job, a byproduct of liberating oneself of mental constraints. Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025 But the movie also knows that limits can be helpful, that having to decide which romantic partner to settle on—or whether to settle on one at all—can be more stressful than liberating. Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2025 This liberates the show from the crime-investigation-arrest plot arc typical of this genre without robbing it of suspense. Judy Berman, Time, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liberate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberate
Verb
  • Of the survivors, Superman works with Raven to find Constantine and help locate Robin, who’s on a quest to free Batman from slavery.
    Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
  • His fellow firefighters, including Gallagher —who was injured during the rescue — used extra manpower and tools to free him before he was stabilized at the scene and flown by CareFlite to the hospital, the department said.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Her efforts saved the animal’s life and landed her in her hometown newspaper, The Mountain Eagle, which was the first to write about the dramatic rescue and resuscitation.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • These annual gifts can also reduce the size of your taxable estate, saving more of your lifetime exemption for future inheritances.
    Nathalie Goldstein, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On Tuesday, 85 scientists released a 459-page rebuttal to the DOE report, highlighting a large body of scientific literature pointing to how climate change can exacerbate droughts, floods, crop failures, and other disasters.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The panel studying those cases released a report last year describing how the state child welfare agency missed warning signs and failed to protect dozens of children from dying of the illicit drug.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For everyday consumers, this change dramatically expands the ways to earn and redeem AAdvantage miles—not just by flying, but by tapping into credit card spending.
    Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • There isn’t much redeeming value in this music, something Táparo is well aware of.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • So, there are still chances that the AHRQ could get rescued at some point by the House of Representatives.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The girl’s mom got into a kayak, paddled out to the sinking canoe and rescued her daughter, but her boyfriend went underwater, deputies said.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rotert says one person had to be extricated from the vehicle.
    Fox19 staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Something did not feel right on Thursday so McCaffrey extricated himself from team drills.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Some of the cattle roaming the marsh are rumored to be the feral descendants of herds emancipated two decades ago by Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall about five miles upriver.
    Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The federal government's few attempts to transition the recently emancipated into the postwar economy were inadequate, historians believe.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • With each employee who walks out the door, operational decay follows, with remaining employees often disengaging from their work.
    Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But while the long-term trend in the West suggests young people are increasingly disengaged with mainstream religion, recent surveys and anecdotal evidence point to a rise in interest in Catholicism among Gen Z in the United States and Europe.
    Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Liberate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberate. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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