Definition of libertynext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word liberty different from other nouns like it?

The words freedom and license are common synonyms of liberty. While all three words mean "the power or condition of acting without compulsion," liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion.

the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty

When could freedom be used to replace liberty?

In some situations, the words freedom and liberty are roughly equivalent. However, freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated.

freedom of the press

When is it sensible to use license instead of liberty?

Although the words license and liberty have much in common, license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom.

freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

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 liberty But freedom without accountability to taxpaying homeowners isn't liberty. Joy Sewing, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026 America is at its best when guided by enduring principles such as equal opportunity, freedom of speech, the rule of law, individual liberty, national sovereignty, merit, freedom of religion, and representative government. Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026 The Constitution’s glitterati, present at the creation, were unanimous in fearing the executive branch would concoct excuses for pointless wars to aggrandize power and crush unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026 Robert Wise took a lot of liberties. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liberty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberty
Noun
  • Make choices that satisfy your soul.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The choice of Walsh over Baylor Scheierman — who started for Brown on Friday and has been above Walsh on the depth chart for the last two-plus months — was notable, as the former had not started a game since New Year’s Day.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The prospect of autonomy remains a distant and fading dream.
    Big Think, Big Think, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Scale required sacrifice of autonomy.
    Kuo Zhang, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The spa also offers an array of signature treatments worth exploring—from wellness rituals (like the Signature Bamford Treatment, which includes a footbath, massage, and assisted yogic breathing) to body rituals (mud baths, sauna wraps) and facials (including a luxurious 24K gold option).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Food pantries rarely offer mobile options, and SNAP cannot be used for home deliveries.
    Beth Shapiro, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • As gangs continue to expand and consolidate territorial control, journalists remain in growing danger, according to the commission and other press freedom groups.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
  • That sense of freedom—of the gaze, of emotion, and of expression—is part of what made Farrokhzad the Iranian New Wave’s confrontational exemplar.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • For women in some regions, access is a real barrier, not a shopping preference — and that context matters.
    Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The workshop will have interactive stations where attendees can share their preferences and provide input on priorities and trade-offs for plans for the site, according to the city.
    Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Tehran rejected the list and presented a five-point proposal that included reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over the waterway.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Iran rejected the offer and presented its own five-point proposal that included reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over the waterway.
    Farnoush Amiri, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • When choosing where to stay, hostels and guesthouses with communal spaces are ideal for solo travelers who want a mix of independence and social connection.
    Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Chavez and Dolores Huerta are as familiar to me as leaders of my own country who fought for independence from British colonial rule.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This visit was very important signal for our partners that Kyiv, much more safety right now, and also very important signal that Great Britain stay together with Ukraine, support Ukraine -- support our country in the fight for our freedom, for our independency.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2022
  • Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.
    Barton Swaim, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2021

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Cite this Entry

“Liberty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberty. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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