liberal

Willing to accept different ideas, allow personal freedom, and change old rules.

• Her parents have liberal views.
• The school takes a liberal approach to teaching.
• He became more liberal about social rules as he grew older.

How to use it: liberal about something (Her parents are liberal about how she dresses.)

Similar words: open-minded, tolerant, progressive

Opposites: conservative, illiberal

Common phrases: liberal views, liberal attitude, liberal approach

Willing to accept new ideas and let people choose how to live.

• Her parents have liberal views.
• The school takes a liberal approach to discipline.
• His attitudes became more liberal with age.

Similar words: open-minded, progressive, permissive

Opposites: conservative

Common phrases: liberal ideas, liberal views, liberal parents

Allowing people to do or receive a lot, with few rules or limits.

• The library has liberal borrowing rules.
• The policy allows liberal use of these images.
• Their liberal spending limits made shopping easy.

Similar words: unrestricted, permissive

Opposites: restrictive

Common phrases: liberal rules, liberal access, liberal use

Giving plenty of money, help, praise, or other things.

• He was liberal with his compliments.
• The charity received liberal donations.
• She gave the children liberal amounts of food.

How to use it: liberal with something (She is liberal with her praise.)

Similar words: generous

Opposites: stingy

Common phrases: liberal with praise, liberal donations, liberal help

A person who supports personal freedom and is open to social or political change.

• She describes herself as a liberal.
• Several liberals supported the reform.
• Can a liberal and a conservative agree on this issue?

Opposites: conservative

Common phrases: a committed liberal, a political liberal, a strong liberal