Antonyms for liberals

Grammar : Noun

Spell : lib-er-uhl, lib-ruhl

Phonetic Transcription : ˈlɪb ər əl, ˈlɪb rəl

Definition of liberals

Origin : mid-14c., "generous," also, late 14c., "selfless; noble, nobly born; abundant," and, early 15c., in a bad sense "extravagant, unrestrained," from Old French liberal "befitting free men, noble, generous, willing, zealous" (12c.), from Latin liberalis "noble, gracious, munificent, generous," literally "of freedom, pertaining to or befitting a free man," from liber "free, unrestricted, unimpeded; unbridled, unchecked, licentious," from PIE *leudh-ero- (cf. Greek eleutheros "free"), probably originally "belonging to the people" (though the precise semantic development is obscure), and a suffixed form of the base *leudh- "people" (cf. Old Church Slavonic ljudu, Lithuanian liaudis, Old English leod, German Leute "nation, people;" Old High German liut "person, people") but literally "to mount up, to grow."
With the meaning "free from restraint in speech or action," liberal was used 16c.-17c. as a term of reproach. It revived in a positive sense in the Enlightenment, with a meaning "free from prejudice, tolerant," which emerged 1776-88.
In reference to education, explained by Fowler as "the education designed for a gentleman (Latin liber a free man) & ... opposed on the one hand to technical or professional or any special training, & on the other to education that stops short before manhood is reached" (cf. liberal arts). Purely in reference to political opinion, "tending in favor of freedom and democracy" it dates from c.1801, from French libéral, originally applied in English by its opponents (often in French form and with suggestions of foreign lawlessness) to the party favorable to individual political freedoms. But also (especially in U.S. politics) tending to mean "favorable to government action to effect social change," which seems at times to draw more from the religious sense of "free from prejudice in favor of traditional opinions and established institutions" (and thus open to new ideas and plans of reform), which dates from 1823.
Conservative, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. [Ambrose Bierce, "Devil's Dictionary," 1911]

As in nonconformist : noun person who goes against normal behavior, beliefs
As in bleeding heart : noun sympathetic person
As in flower child : noun hippie
As in left wing : noun person or group favoring change

Example sentences :

Tories and Liberals knew he had not shrunk from meeting the public on this question.
Extract from : « The Grand Old Man » by Richard B. Cook

It was found that ninety-three Liberals had voted with the majority.
Extract from : « The Grand Old Man » by Richard B. Cook

The agricultural districts were faithful to the Liberals, but they lost in the boroughs.
Extract from : « The Grand Old Man » by Richard B. Cook

It is a real drawback to us Liberals that they are so weak, so negligible.
Extract from : « A Writer's Recollections (In Two Volumes), Volume II » by Mrs. Humphry Ward

And it was so easy to satisfy (p. 324) and hush the Mexican liberals.
Extract from : « Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863 » by Adam Gurowski

Balfour had a look at the Liberals, and then he turned to his own back-benches and had a look at the Tories.
Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine

I've always said that the Tories have the courage of the Liberals' convictions!
Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine

Conservatism was out of favour just then, and the Liberals were in power.
Extract from : « Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2) » by William Delisle Hay

How is it possible for Liberals and Conservatives to join hands, as you call it?
Extract from : « The Silver Box (First Series Plays) » by John Galsworthy

And there you sit, you Liberals, and pretend to encourage these people!
Extract from : « The Silver Box (First Series Plays) » by John Galsworthy

Synonyms for liberals

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019