liberal synonyms
liberal
modif.
Openhanded
unselfish, bountiful, benevolent; see generous 1, kind.Open-minded or progressive
tolerant, open-minded, receptive, progressive, libertarian, reformist, advanced, left, radical, broadminded, understanding, permissive, lax, indulgent, unprejudiced, impartial, disinterested, reasonable, enlightened, unbigoted, undogmatic, unbiased, dispassionate, unorthodox, unconventional, avant-garde, broad-gauge, left-wing, left-of-center, freethinking, latitudinarian, magnanimous, fair, free, flexible, idealistic, high-minded, bleeding-heart*; see also lenient.Antonyms
prejudiced*, narrow-minded*, conservative. * Plentiful
liberal implies tolerance of others' views as well as open-mindedness to ideas that challenge tradition, established institutions, etc.; progressive, a relative term opposed to reactionary or conservative, is applied to persons favoring progress and reform in politics, education, etc. and connotes an inclination to more direct action than liberal; advanced specifically implies being ahead of the times, as in science, the arts, or philosophy; radical implies a favoring of fundamental or extreme change, specifically of the social structure; left, originally referring to the position in legislatures of the seats occupied by parties holding such views, implies political liberalism or radicalism
liberal
n.
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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