1
as in parochial
not broad or open in views or opinions
an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in narrow
unwilling to grant other people social rights or to accept other viewpoints
some of the more illiberal residents were opposed to having a hospice for AIDS patients in the neighborhood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vulgar
archaic
lacking in refinement or good taste
people who had been scorned as illiberal because they were poor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illiberal
Imagining an illiberal, renegade United States is only a matter of taking seriously what Trump says.
—
Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
When China challenged American leadership, Putin provoked the Biden administration into suggesting that America, the defender of the liberal order, exploits that order in illiberal ways.
—Dominic Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
Far from being an example of virtuous liberty turning into dangerous license, Germany under Adolf Hitler was engaged in precisely the sort of undemocratic, illiberal authoritarianism that Vance was condemning.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 Feb. 2025
America’s commitment to these liberal values has competed with an alternative set of illiberal values that hold that full American citizenship should be limited by race, ethnicity, gender and class.
—Philip Klinkner, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
When China challenged American leadership, Putin provoked the Biden administration into suggesting that America, the defender of the liberal order, exploits that order in illiberal ways.
—Dominic Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
Far from being an example of virtuous liberty turning into dangerous license, Germany under Adolf Hitler was engaged in precisely the sort of undemocratic, illiberal authoritarianism that Vance was condemning.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 Feb. 2025
America’s commitment to these liberal values has competed with an alternative set of illiberal values that hold that full American citizenship should be limited by race, ethnicity, gender and class.
—Philip Klinkner, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberal
Adjective
-
Currently the parochial vicar at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, Rev. Pedigo formerly served as pastor at St. Julie Billiart and Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Jose.—
Sal Pizarro,
The Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2025
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At this point, any family that wants their child to attend a private school is now able to get more than $8,000 per year to pay private or parochial tuition.—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Rubrik beat Wall Street’s expectations, posting an adjusted loss of 18 cents per share for its fourth quarter, which was narrower than the 39 cent loss expected from analysts polled by LSEG.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The historically narrow majority that Republicans hold in the House of Representatives means this opposition will probably continue.—
Justin Peck / Made by History,
TIME,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
There is a ring on my finger that, to quote Rhett Butler, is the biggest and most vulgar ring in Atlanta (Maine), and a six-course, all-cheese dinner is awaiting us afterward.—
Christine Murphy,
People.com,
5 Mar. 2025
-
This goes double for vulgar and hateful content, which is a growing problem across social media.—
Ella Cerón,
Parents,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Sitting in his idling pickup one afternoon, Sherlock watched as a Canadian Pacific train rumbled by the grain elevator in the small town of Wimbledon.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
-
His 2024 numbers and also 2025 spring training numbers are both very small sample sizes, so the jury is still out on Warren.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Students were emboldened to make bigoted statements about immigrants, Muslims and other groups.—
Laura Wray-Lake,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The priest, Kent, and his deputy find themselves in Anadarko, Okla., where female Marshall Mamie Fossett (Jennifer Carpenter) brings out Kent's bigoted side.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump teaches this crass behavior to his MAGA minions so that many Americans can no longer distinguish true from false, right from wrong, justice from injustice.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
-
There’s not really any sort of crude, crass direction.—
Jon Pareles,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
That sketch, coming just before the episode’s closing performance by Cypress Hill, was the hour’s peak, containing all the promise of petty obsessions afforded airtime in a chorus of besuited actors shouting a monologue as one.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2025
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This isn’t to say the vigilante trans group in the new world is free of petty catfights.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The province's chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, told a provincial assembly that troops killed all insurgents involved.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 Mar. 2025
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Others were taken to Quetta, the provincial capital, about 62 miles away.—
Abdul Sattar and Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberal. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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