illiberal
adjective
il·lib·er·al
(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-b(ə-)rəl 
: not liberal: such as
a
: not broad-minded : bigoted
illiberal thinking
b
: opposed to liberalism
illiberal tendencies
c
: not requiring the background of a liberal arts education
illiberal occupations
d
archaic
: not generous : stingy
e
archaic
(1)
: lacking a liberal education
(2)
: lacking culture and refinement
Synonyms
Examples of illiberal in a Sentence
an illiberal attitude toward sex
an illiberal society that viewed any artistic depiction of the nude as inherently indecent
Recent Examples on the Web
In a recent piece in the New York Times, New York University historian Steven Hahn contextualizes Donald Trump’s illiberal tendencies.
—
Thomas Koenig, National Review, 14 May 2024
And in Hungary, cementing a Chinese economic footprint within the European Union, Xi offered warm praise for Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the illiberal leader who has been a thorn in the side of European allies in the more than two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for illiberal 
Thomas Koenig, National Review, 14 May 2024
And in Hungary, cementing a Chinese economic footprint within the European Union, Xi offered warm praise for Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the illiberal leader who has been a thorn in the side of European allies in the more than two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for illiberal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'illiberal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near illiberal
Cite this Entry
“Illiberal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illiberal. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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