illiberal
Opposed to freedoms
Illiberal describes attitudes, policies, or systems that restrict freedom—whether political, intellectual, or personal.
An illiberal government suppresses dissent and limits civil liberties.
Illiberal views are narrow-minded or intolerant: His illiberal attitude toward immigration surprised me.
The word operates as the opposite of liberal in its older sense of open and generous, not its modern political sense.
Stubbornly intolerant of others
- prejudicedBiased against a group
- discriminatoryShowing unfair distinction
- xenophobicFearing or hating outsiders
- racistOne prejudiced by ethnicity
homophobic · sectarian · chauvinistic · narrow-minded · closed-minded · dogmatic · biased · unfair
Rule by one
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
repression · suppression · censorship · coercion · oppression · domination · control · subjugation
Narrow in outlook
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- myopicUnable to see far
- shortsightedUnable to see ahead
- blinkeredHaving restricted outlook
ethnocentric · small-minded · limited · petty · unenlightened · backward · regressive · hidebound
Tending to suppress
- prohibitivePreventing through excess
- constrainingImposing limits upon
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
curtailing · limiting · censorious · draconian · punitive · controlling · regimented · oppressive
Rule by few
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- kleptocracyState-sponsored looting system
- monarchyRule by crowned sovereign
- theocracyRule by religious authority
junta · fascism · nepotism · feudalism · militarism · one-party · rigged · disenfranchisement
bigoted
Stubbornly intolerant of others
- prejudicedBiased against a group
- discriminatoryShowing unfair distinction
- xenophobicFearing or hating outsiders
racist · homophobic · sectarian · chauvinistic · narrow-minded · closed-minded · dogmatic · biased · unfair · exclusionary
autocracy
Rule by one
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- despotismAbsolute one-person rule
totalitarianism · repression · suppression · censorship · coercion · oppression · domination · control · subjugation · absolutism
insular
Narrow in outlook
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- myopicUnable to see far
- shortsightedUnable to see ahead
blinkered · ethnocentric · small-minded · limited · petty · unenlightened · backward · regressive · hidebound · unsophisticated
repressive
Tending to suppress
- prohibitivePreventing through excess
- constrainingImposing limits upon
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
suppressing · curtailing · limiting · censorious · draconian · punitive · controlling · regimented · oppressive · silencing
oligarchy
Rule by few
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- kleptocracyState-sponsored looting system
- monarchyRule by crowned sovereign
theocracy · junta · fascism · nepotism · feudalism · militarism · one-party · rigged · disenfranchisement · voter suppression
- oppressivestifling, suffocating, smothering, crushing, repressive
- intolerantbigoted, biased, prejudiced, discriminatory, intolerant
illiberalopen-minded
Receptive to different ideas
tolerant · broad-minded · liberal · accepting · receptive
illiberalliberal
Open to reform
democratic · progressive · libertarian · constitutionalist · radical
illiberalgenerous
Willing to give freely
charitable · magnanimous · bountiful · liberal · munificent