Meaning & use
illiberal
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableformaldisapproving
Opposed to freedom of speech, open debate, and equal rights; unwilling to allow other views.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: illiberal laws, an illiberal regime.
Patterns
- an illiberal regime
- illiberal toward something
The government passed illiberal laws that silenced critics.
He criticized the party's illiberal attitude toward the press.
Illiberal rulers often control the courts.
adjectivecomparableformaldisapproving
Narrow-minded and intolerant in ordinary attitudes or beliefs.
Grammar: Describes attitudes, not necessarily governments.
Patterns
- illiberal in something
Her illiberal views made family dinners tense.
The committee was illiberal in its treatment of new ideas.
An illiberal school can stifle curiosity.
adjectivecomparablerareold-fashioned
Not generous with money; mean or stingy.
Grammar: A rare and dated sense.
Patterns
- illiberal with something
The old landlord was illiberal with repairs.
They called him illiberal for never tipping.
An illiberal budget left the library short of books.
Word forms
| comparative | more illiberal |
|---|---|
| superlative | most illiberal |
Common combinations
- an illiberal regime
- An illiberal regime often censors the press.
- illiberal democracy
- Illiberal democracy keeps elections but limits freedoms.
- illiberal policies
- The minister defended illiberal policies on protest.
- illiberal attitude
- Her illiberal attitude toward critics surprised colleagues.
- increasingly illiberal
- The country has grown increasingly illiberal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- intolerant
- Intolerant describes a person who cannot accept others' views, whereas illiberal is also used for laws and systems.
- authoritarian
- Authoritarian stresses demanding strict obedience to authority, rather than rejecting freedoms generally.
- repressive
- Repressive highlights actively crushing opposition and is usually harsher than illiberal.
- narrow-minded
- Narrow-minded is informal and describes a refusal to consider new ideas.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: illiberal or conservative?
illiberal vs conservative
Conservative describes a preference for tradition and need not be hostile to freedom, while illiberal always signals opposition to open debate and rights.
Practice
The new law bans public criticism of the government. A reporter would most likely call it ___.
Choose one answer.
A law that bans criticism restricts freedom of speech, which is what illiberal means. The other options mean the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “illiberal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.