Illiberal — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-b(ə-)rəl/ il·lib·er·al

Meaning & Definition of Illiberal

Illiberal (adjective)

  1. not liberal
  2. opposed to political liberalism; especially, restricting individual rights and freedoms
  3. not broad-minded, bigoted

Illiberal (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not broad or open in views or opinions

    "an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent"

    similar: insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded
    related: inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded, bigoted, intolerant, biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced, brassbound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced, stuffy, dogmatic, opinionated, opinionative, limited, hick, unsophisticated
    opposite: broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant
    near: impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced, freethinking

  2. 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"

    similar: bigoted, intolerant, narrow, narrow-minded, prejudiced, small-minded
    related: hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, blindfolded, blinkered, insular, parochial, provincial, biased, one-sided, partial, partisan
    opposite: broad-minded, liberal, open-minded, tolerant, unprejudiced
    near: extreme, progressive, radical, impartial, objective, unbiased

  3. lacking in refinement or good taste

    "people who had been scorned as illiberal because they were poor"

    similar: coarse, common, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, incult, insensible, low, lowbred, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, roughneck, rude, rugged, tasteless, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar
    related: boorish, churlish, cloddish, clownish, loutish, ungentlemanly, clumsy, lubberly, lumpish, oafish, inconsiderate, indelicate, insensitive, thoughtless, countrified, provincial, rustic, unsophisticated, graceless, inelegant, tacky, animallike, barbaric, barbarous, uncivilized, mannerless, unmannered, unmannerly
    opposite: civilized, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polished, refined, smooth, tasteful, ultrarefined, well-bred
    near: aristocratic, courtly, patrician, elegant, graceful, restrained, considerate, gracious, sensitive, thoughtful, citified, sophisticated, urbane

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Illiberal

The most common words with a similar meaning to Illiberal:

insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded, bigoted, intolerant, prejudiced, coarse, common, crass, crude, gross, ill-bred, incult, insensible, low, lowbred, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, roughneck, rude, rugged, tasteless, uncouth, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Illiberal

Words with the opposite meaning of Illiberal:

broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant, unprejudiced, civilized, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polished, refined, smooth, tasteful, ultrarefined, well-bred

Related Words for Illiberal

inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded, biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, brassbound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced, stuffy, dogmatic, opinionated, opinionative, limited, hick, unsophisticated, blindfolded

Near Antonyms of Illiberal

impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, freethinking, extreme, progressive, radical, aristocratic, courtly, patrician, elegant, graceful, restrained, considerate, gracious, sensitive, thoughtful, citified, sophisticated, urbane

Word Forms of Illiberal

Derived words: illiberality (noun), illiberally (adverb), illiberalness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Illiberal

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin illiberalis ignoble, stingy, from Latin in- + liberalis liberal

First known use: 1588

Frequently Asked Questions about Illiberal

What does "Illiberal" mean?

"Illiberal" means not liberal. As an adjective, it is defined as: not liberal. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Illiberal"?

Other words for "Illiberal" include insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty and picayune. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Illiberal" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Illiberal"?

There are 96 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Illiberal". Common alternatives include insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, picayune, provincial and sectarian.

What is the opposite of "Illiberal"?

Antonyms of "Illiberal" include broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive and tolerant. Near antonyms include impartial, nonpartisan, objective and unbiased.

How do you use "Illiberal" in a sentence?

Examples of "Illiberal" in a sentence: "an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent"; "some of the more illiberal residents were opposed to having a hospice for AIDS patients in the neighborhood"; "people who had been scorned as illiberal because they were poor".

Is "Illiberal" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Illiberal" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Illiberal"?

"Illiberal" is pronounced /(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-b(ə-)rəl/ and divided into syllables as il·lib·er·al.

What is the origin of the word "Illiberal"?

"Illiberal" comes from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin illiberalis ignoble, stingy, from Latin in- + liberalis liberal. First known use: 1588.