free 1 of 2

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as in liberated
no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful after our son arrived home safely, we were grateful to be free from worry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in costless
not costing or charging anything although the museum normally charges admission, on Wednesdays it is free to all

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as in single
not physically attached to another unit an arrangement of free columns adds interest to the Greco-Roman sculpture garden

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free

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verb

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as in to open
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions we'll free the river by breaking up the ice jam

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as in to clear
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way would you mind freeing up the work area so I can work?

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For
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a free press
an unrestricted press
an uncensored press
an independent press
an unregulated press
an open press
free access
open access
public access
unlimited access
excellent access
free speech
open speech
uncensored speech
liberated speech
unchecked speech
free space
open space
clear space
eligible space
valid space
unlocked space
a free choice
a personal choice
an unfettered choice
an open choice
a willing choice
an independent choice

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective free contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of free are autonomous, independent, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

When is it sensible to use autonomous instead of free?

While the synonyms autonomous and free are close in meaning, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When would independent be a good substitute for free?

In some situations, the words independent and free are roughly equivalent. However, independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

When is sovereign a more appropriate choice than free?

The words sovereign and free are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

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 free
Adjective
The Kings Island Gold Pass gives guests season-long access to Kings Island, Soak City Water Park and free general parking. Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 July 2025 Military veterans and children aged 2 and under are free. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 25 July 2025
Verb
Learning to let go of the control of the visuals, and writing scripts for other artists like Dustin was really freeing. Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 11 July 2025 In the future, the AI startup will open up its browser to free users and support more operating systems. PC Magazine, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for free
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped to 37%, according to a new Gallup poll, the lowest mark of his second term as independent voters have increasingly soured on his presidency.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 26 July 2025
  • On July 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed controversial legislation that would de facto place the country’s independent anti-corruption bodies under government control.
    Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Adjective
  • An album that presents itself as stark and liberated feels too much like a product of creative compromise.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
  • Their wildly liberated sound, which mixes punk and dembow and rap, doesn’t sound like anyone else out there.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • The rubber outsole performed well on a variety of outdoor surfaces, including loose rocks, dirt, and grass.
    Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2025
  • Frank Lloyd Wright said that, and some of those loose objects were his own.
    Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • The new subsidies are more generous for low- and middle-income earners and are available to people with higher incomes who previously were ineligible.
    Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 14 July 2025
  • This is an excellent, strange little book that appeared in 2011 and had a profound impact on me, and apparently on Florence Welch who adorns the cover with a generous quote.
    Hattie Williams July 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong, Justin Turner and more were in attendance, taking advantage of the Cubs having an off day after several of them put in a shift signing autographs at The National earlier in the day.
    The Athletic Collectibles Staff, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The attacker, 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, entered the office tower with an assault rifle and body armor, fatally shooting a security guard, a Blackstone executive, a Rudin Management associate, and an off-duty NYPD officer before taking his own life.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
Adjective
  • Once the Waymo arrives, riders will be able to unlock the vehicle, open the trunk and start the trip, all from their familiar Uber app.
    Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • And which familiar voices will play its ensemble of cops, crooks, and citizens?
    EW.com, EW.com, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • For a single taxpayer, the 12% tax rate applied on taxable income from $11,926 through $48,475 in 2025.
    Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
  • The deduction is completely phased out for single filers earning above $150,000 and married couples with incomes above $250,000.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The Cambodian Human Rights Committee, a government agency, released a letter addressed to the U.N. high commissioner for human rights claiming that the two soldiers had been tortured and denied medical care.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Weak jobs Just hours after the new tariff rates were announced, the Friday jobs report was released.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Free.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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