illiberal

adjective

(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-b(ə-)rəl How to pronounce illiberal (audio)
Definition of illiberalnext
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

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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

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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

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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 illiberal After 16 years of rule by Orbán’s illiberal Fidesz party, the electoral playing field had been so tilted against his opponents that some questioned whether an alternative was possible. — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026 This election could reshape not just Hungary but signal a broader European rejection of the illiberal, nationalist movements Orbán inspired among the global far-right. — Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026 Scholars of comparative authoritarianism have long identified the selective application of harsh criminal penalties as a hallmark of illiberal governance. — Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026 As Orbán over the past decade took a forceful stance against migrants and refugees and proclaimed himself Europe's champion of illiberal Christian democracy, Budapest became a magnet for American conservatives. — Catherine Belton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberal
  1. parochial
  2. narrow
  3. vulgar
  4. small
  5. bigoted
  6. crass
  7. petty
  8. provincial
Adjective
  • For Bourne, newspapers, besides giving information, encourage an acceptance of non-parochial views.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Our small island has arguably contributed more in terms of popular music than any other nation, but British driving songs are unavoidably parochial.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of parochial
Adjective
  • The decision to set that tone staggering through all 10 minutes of the extended cut might scan as raw inspiration, placing Spacemen 3 on a narrow band from La Monte Young and Terry Riley to some brilliant dro)))ne future.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Recent polls have shown Jackson holding only a narrow lead over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Continue reading … SOUR NOTE — Hayley Williams unleashes vulgar insult at DHS after agency defends ICE officers.
    — , FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • This has made some machine translations comically inaccurate, sometimes turning innocuous words into vulgar references in English.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of vulgar
Adjective
  • Comparing households aged 72 and older in 2022 with those aged 75 and older in 2025, Maggiulli calculated a smaller—but still substantial—21% increase.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The development could help make optical atomic clocks smaller and more suitable for use outside laboratories.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • The killing, often deliberate, of more than twenty thousand children in Gaza injured consciences, not purses, and consciences could be managed with some ritual censuring of Benjamin Netanyahu or his proudly bigoted colleagues.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Over the five hours that follow, the series tracks what led to the tragedy — specifically, his complicated relationship with his resentful, bigoted next-door neighbor, Clive (David Morrissey).
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of bigoted
Adjective
  • But the fashionable-at-the-time nakedness of the YBAs’ desire for money, most completely embodied by Hirst, quickly became crass.
    — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Murdoch is thick-skinned and accustomed to being underestimated by the condescending Brits, who see him as a crass interloper.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of crass
Adjective
  • Blacks in the South were routinely imprisoned on petty or trumped-up charges, then leased out to landowners, mining companies, railroads and factories as unpaid labor.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, out on the streets, young con artist Thomas Shepherd (Ruaridh Mollica) and pickpocket Lisa Molinari (Lauren Morais) are running petty scams.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • The provincial government said a committee had been formed to investigate the cause of the roof collapse of the three-story building.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In total, the deal will inject nearly 125 megawatts of extra clean electricity into the provincial grid.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of provincial

Browse Nearby Words

ill-humored
illiberal
illiberalism
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Cite this Entry

“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberal. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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