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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
In a poll of 1,021 Cook County residents conducted in late February, a little more than third of Chicago adults identified as liberal. Will Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025 With Connecticut facing the possibility of exceeding the cap by $61 million, Lamont is reining in spending, annoying some liberal Democrats who note that the state is simultaneously looking at a budget surplus. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
Its rise is part of a Europe-wide trend alarming liberals and centrists, whereby once-fringe nationalist parties are making striding gains across the continent at the expense of the political establishment. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025 Some Trump defenders claim the posts are harmless trolling, a reference flown over liberals’ heads. Miranda Jeyaretnam, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for liberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberal
Adjective
  • Moskowitz has the lowest rating of any Florida Democrat in scoring by Progressive Punch, which produces a database of congressional voting records from a progressive perspective.
    Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Sinema also noted progressive leader Rep. Pramila Jayapal's (D-Wash.) demands for Schumer to filibuster.
    Justin Green, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Wout Faes was generous enough to give Hojlund an extra beat to run the ball into the penalty area unpressured, and United’s No 9 accepted the gift with a shot low and hard across Mads Hermansen into the far corner.
    Carl Anka, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Her passion for theatre is matched by her kind and generous spirit, creating an environment where her peers feel encouraged and supported.
    Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • By the late 1960s, Cindy Pritzker was a visible figure in Chicago’s charitable community, including co-chairing the annual Crystal Ball, a fundraising event that raised money for Michael Reese Hospital’s Medical Research Institute.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Even though our grandparents wouldn’t have dreamt of cooking bacon in anything other than their cast-iron skillets, modern Southerners have their own ideas about the best ways to cook bacon.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2025
  • All interiors have been gut-renovated and tastefully restored with stylish and comfortable contemporary furnishings with clean lines, natural materials, and an appealing mix of Scandinavian and mid-century modern sensibilities.
    Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Outdoor activities are plentiful, from the numerous hiking trails to the Contoocook River, which offers boating, fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
  • For example, cheap labor and service means women in major cities can outsource domestic tasks to workers who migrate into the cities, supplementing that free and plentiful childcare.
    Rocio Wu, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The benevolent master of ceremonies left a care kit beneath each audience member's seat for the nearly four-hour show.
    Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
  • In Thai Buddhist lore, these trees, thousands of which spike Koh Samui, are home to benevolent spirits, says political scientist Pavin Chachavalpongpun, from the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Japan’s Kyoto University.
    Ronan O'Connell, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Luis Peralta, the 24-year-old lefty, struggled, yielding four runs on five hits (including a homer) in two-thirds of an inning.
    Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Before last season, the lefty had posted five consecutive seasons with an OPS+ of 100 or higher.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • After her untimely death, Bella Baxter (Emma Stone, in an Oscar-winning performance) is brought back to life through a radical scientific experiment conducted by the eccentric Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe).
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • That kind of creative thinking can help with any radical change in life, whether finding a different job or moving to a new country.
    Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong, NPR, 8 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Liberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberal. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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