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
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
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
Connecting the world did not, in fact, convert illiberal societies to liberalism.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2025
At the same time, Putin cultivated ties with illiberal populists across Europe.
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Second, Africa's declining support for democracy provides a clear opening for illiberal actors.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
The Editors, National Review, 18 Feb. 2025
Connecting the world did not, in fact, convert illiberal societies to liberalism.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2025
At the same time, Putin cultivated ties with illiberal populists across Europe.
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Second, Africa's declining support for democracy provides a clear opening for illiberal actors.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiberal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiberal
Adjective
-
The plum political prize, of course, will be deciding how congressional districts are drawn, perhaps giving this parochial court a major say in which party—and its preferred Speaker—gets to run the U.S. House.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
-
There is nothing more parochial or bland than being a soft, white Anglican kid from Ottawa.—
Graydon Carter,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
On Saturday, the narrow field caused both teams to adapt to tighter spaces and quicker play.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
In February, Trump had a narrow net approval rating of plus 0.6 points.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Europeans were enchanted by the expressive fluency that the New York critics had considered vulgar.—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The chief spoke at the LAPD’s Police Commission weekly meeting Tuesday, a day after news broke that officers from the department’s recruitment and employment division had been unknowingly recorded making vulgar comments, including while talking about police applicants.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2022, a consortium of private retirement-plan providers announced a collaboration to boost the portability of small retirement accounts.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Though the alpha-hydroxy acid is an all-star of an active, its rewards aren’t without some small risks—mainly, irritation and sensitivity if used incorrectly.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
No one else with direct access to the president has been as outwardly bigoted.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Alas, when Roseanne Barr, who was warned to stay off social media, hit send on a bigoted tweet, she was removed from her own show.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Those other countries don’t seem to have the same proportion of crass blowhards in their political structure as the U.S.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Slipshod, crass, and sick, these jokes, dialling in from abroad and at home, were distinct from the humor that had followed other U.S. catastrophes.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
The New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Image In Davao, Mr. Duterte remains widely popular, remembered for cracking down on problems like drugs, petty crime and violence.—
Aie Balagtas See,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Where Hub once pursued petty criminals, he’s now charged with rounding up escaped demons by the Devil himself.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Whereas the Romans allied with provincial elites, enabling them to benefit from the empire’s success, the Han rulers attempted to weaken the local elites by forcing powerful families to resettle in or near the capital.—
Rosie McCall,
Discover Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
-
One model he's suggested is that of a federal configuration divided into provincial units that could be tasked with local decision-making on issues such as education while still answering to a common central government.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiberal. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share