FREEDOM Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'freedom' different from other nouns like it?

The words liberty and license are common synonyms of freedom . While all three words mean "the power or condition of acting without compulsion," freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated. // freedom of the press

Q: When could 'liberty' be used to replace 'freedom'?

In some situations, the words liberty and freedom are roughly equivalent. However, liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion. // the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty

Q: In what contexts can 'license' take the place of 'freedom'?

While in some cases nearly identical to freedom , license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom. // freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

freedom

noun

ˈfrē-dəm

Definition of freedom

as in independence

the state of being free from the control or power of another we owe our freedom to the untold numbers of soldiers who have fought in our nation's wars since its founding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in latitude

the right to act or move freely as special guests of the owners, the youngsters had full freedom of the resort and its private beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word freedom different from other nouns like it?

The words liberty and license are common synonyms of freedom. While all three words mean "the power or condition of acting without compulsion," freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated.

freedom of the press

When could liberty be used to replace freedom?

In some situations, the words liberty and freedom are roughly equivalent. However, liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion.

the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty

In what contexts can license take the place of freedom?

While in some cases nearly identical to freedom, license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom.

freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

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 freedom The AccuWeather team will be looking for smaller storm cells breaking off of the main line, which would give them freedom to begin rotating and potentially spin off a tornado funnel. — Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026 In other words, respondents who advocated for a Christian nation also affirmed religious freedom for all. — Paul Djupe, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026 This is a celebration of our country, the freedoms we’ve been given, the opportunity that we’ve been given. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Observers say the activists' prosecution and the disappearance of the vigil symbolized the loss of freedoms that Beijing promised to maintain for 50 years when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for freedom

Recent Examples of Synonyms for freedom

Noun

The scary transition to independence Young adults living away home, without a highly structured school day with classes and extracurriculars dominating most of their time, are going to make mistakes.

— Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
What has inspired me most isn’t just their strength, independence and resilience, but the way their divorce has transformed into a beautiful starting point for something better.

— Josh Feldman, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of independence

Noun

Beyond any of the sociocultural flotsam and jetsam, hanging out with your crush on a lake at a northern latitude both softens and distills all the brain-stem-deep associations with what summer means.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
In the Northern Hemisphere, point the telescope mount roughly north and set the mount’s tilt to match your location's latitude, using Polaris, the North Star, as a rough guide to true north.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of latitude

Noun

Regional conflicts disrupt stability, while economic security and technological sovereignty take on greater weight relative to the interconnectedness that characterized previous decades of globalization.

— Armand Arton, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
To deter China from threatening its sovereignty, Taiwan could restrict its critical semiconductor industry.

— Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of sovereignty

Noun

Culture Minister Isaac Tchiakpé rejected RSF’s assertion that the filmmakers had received authorization from his ministry to carry out the documentary shoot.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Without work authorizations and the ability to drive, many have chosen for now, to remain home behind closed doors.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of authorization

Noun

Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.

— Barton Swaim, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2021
His seemingly daily attacks on freedom of speech, the independency of the judiciary, the right to vote and other pillars of our constitutional system are bolstered by an intensely loyal fan base.

— Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2020

Definition of independency

Noun

Organized crime operations from several cities, including Chicago, New York and Detroit, had established control of casinos up and down the Vegas Strip and devised schemes to skim percentages of the cash under the noses of state regulators.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Republicans hope to pick up seven of Missouri’s eight congressional seats amid a bitter fight for control of Congress.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of control

Noun

The executive order emphasizes parental decision-making and religious liberty, and directs federal agencies to examine issues related to religious and medical exemptions from childhood vaccine requirements.

— Gino Vicci, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Conservative project, too But the rights and liberties protected by state constitutions haven’t just evolved in a liberal direction.

— Quinn Yeargain, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of liberty

Noun

Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, many aspects of personal life for members of the Communist Party or the state sector, from divorce to travel and social activities, have come under increasing scrutiny.

— Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
The genius villain is telepathic and has several powers, including superhuman strength, telekinesis, energy projection, shapeshifting and teleportation.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of power

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freedmen

freedom

freedoms

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“Freedom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freedom. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of freedom

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