free-thinking
Questioning accepted beliefs
Free-thinking means forming opinions independently rather than accepting established doctrines, especially religious ones.
A free-thinking person questions authority and tradition, relying on reason and evidence instead: Her free-thinking parents encouraged her to challenge conventional wisdom.
The term carries Enlightenment associations with skepticism toward religious orthodoxy.
Also spelled freethinking.
Accepting of differences
- open-mindedReceptive to different ideas
- unprejudicedFree from preconceptions
- broad-mindedReceptive to differing views
- unbiasedFree from prejudice
accepting · flexible · receptive · cosmopolitan · impartial · nonjudgmental · pluralistic · curious
Free from external control
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- rebelAuthority defier
- dissentDisagreement with authority
unorthodox · individualism · contrarian · skeptic · eccentric · heretic · bohemian · dissident
One who doubts claims
- secularNonreligious, worldly
- humanisticCentered on human values
- reasonBasis or justification
- inquiryRequest for information
empirical · logical · philosophical · agnostic · atheist · Enlightenment · scientific · deist
Advocate for gradual change
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- activismDirect effort for reform
- advancementForward movement or promotion
liberation · modernism · suffrage · abolitionism · empowerment · progressivism · pioneering · visionary
tolerant
Accepting of differences
- open-mindedReceptive to different ideas
- unprejudicedFree from preconceptions
- broad-mindedReceptive to differing views
unbiased · accepting · flexible · receptive · cosmopolitan · impartial · nonjudgmental · pluralistic · curious · egalitarian
independent
Free from external control
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- rebelAuthority defier
dissent · unorthodox · individualism · contrarian · skeptic · eccentric · heretic · bohemian · dissident · questioning
skeptic
One who doubts claims
- secularNonreligious, worldly
- humanisticCentered on human values
- reasonBasis or justification
inquiry · empirical · logical · philosophical · agnostic · atheist · Enlightenment · scientific · deist · intellectual
reformist
Advocate for gradual change
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- activismDirect effort for reform
advancement · liberation · modernism · suffrage · abolitionism · empowerment · progressivism · pioneering · visionary · revolutionary
- creative traitscreative, imaginative, inventive, innovative, original
- open-mindednessopenness, open mind, broad-mindedness, broadminded, broad-minded
free-thinkingnarrow-minded
Intolerant of differing views
close-minded · closed-minded · narrow · small-minded · bigoted
free-thinkingdoctrinaire
Rigidly attached to doctrine
dogmatic · orthodox · conformist · fundamentalist · unquestioning