liberalism

noun

ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce liberalism (audio)
Definition of liberalismnext
as in left
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom liberalism had always claimed to stand for the greatest social good

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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 liberalism In the nineteen-thirties—a decade of political assassinations, failed military coups, brutal invasions of China, and a hard-right reaction against the relative liberalism of the nineteen-twenties—the yakuza embraced the Zeitgeist with gusto. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Their counterparts in Neon kept their Palme d’Or streak alive with Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord, a drama about religious Romanians clashing with Nordic liberalism. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 This switching of places is especially true of Islam seen as an alien but also more virile force than Western liberalism, one whose power thus needs to be countered by its own weapons of solidarity and domination. — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 The following year she was elected to the Italian parliament for the maverick Radical Party, a bastion of anticlericalism, civil libertarianism, feminism, liberalism and radicalism in Italy. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for liberalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liberalism
left
Noun
  • Simply because the left, which has taken over in these spaces, does not tolerate dissent that challenges their worldview.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • To enter split-screen multitasking, open an app and swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then drag the window to the areas that appear on the left and right of the screen.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of left

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liberal
liberalism
liberality
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Cite this Entry

“Liberalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liberalism. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on liberalism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about liberalism

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