How does the adjective free contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of free are autonomous, independent, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.
you're free to do as you like
When is it sensible to use autonomous instead of free?
While the synonyms autonomous and free are close in meaning, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.
in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous
When would independent be a good substitute for free?
In some situations, the words independent and free are roughly equivalent. However, independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.
the colony's struggle to become independent
When is sovereign a more appropriate choice than free?
The words sovereign and free are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.
separate and sovereign armed services
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 free
Adjective
Corbin Burnes had one year remaining until free agency when the Brewers sent the 2021 Cy Young Award winner to the Baltimore Orioles in February 2024 for infielder Joey Ortiz and pitcher DL Hall.—ABC News,
17 Oct. 2026 Entry to exhibitions will also be free for visitors aged 26 and under, among several other groups.—
Alessia Armenise,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Oct. 2026
Verb
But many people who've made big midlife changes describe it as freeing.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2026 Ending support for Europe’s Envision mission and canceling Mars Sample Return freed up enough funding for NASA to move forward with DAVINCI and VERITAS, and in some cases, buy back some of their past delays.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for free
At the end of September, leaders of several of the biggest AI companies went to the White House and signed an accord committing to internal risk controls, independent audits and board-level oversight of safety.
—
Giorgos Tsetis,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2026
However, the ministry’s statement does not provide independent verification of the results or disclose additional technical details about the missiles’ performance.
But this year, rumors suggest the company is doing away with this upgrade option amid the RAM crunch, or at least adding some fine print that would make customers pay for part of the usually gratis level-up.
Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.
The answer is that there are some cases where quantum waves interfere constructively and give rise to a pattern familiar from classical physics.
—
Philipp Strasberg,
Scientific American,
20 Oct. 2026
For experienced yogis, doing yoga from a chair can offer new ways to explore familiar movements, says Pate, who incorporates a chair into many of her regular yoga classes.
Copy Citation
