anti-liberally
|an-ti-lib-er-al-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈlɪbərəli/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈlɪb(ə)rəli/
against being liberal / not generous
Etymology
'anti-liberally' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') combined with 'liberally' (from Latin 'liberalis' via English 'liberal' + adverbial suffix '-ly').
'anti-' was attached to the adjective 'liberal' in English to form 'anti-liberal' (used from the 19th–20th centuries onward), and then the adverbial suffix '-ly' produced 'anti-liberally'.
Initially formed to mean 'in opposition to liberal ideology' (political sense); by extension it can also be used in a general sense to mean 'not generously' or 'in a stingy manner'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner opposed to liberalism or liberal principles; in an anti-liberal way (political/ideological sense).
The council voted anti-liberally, rejecting measures aimed at expanding civil rights.
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Adverb 2
not in a generous or open-handed manner; stingily or parsimoniously (manner/degree sense).
He distributed the bonus anti-liberally, giving only a token amount to most employees.
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Last updated: 2025/11/02 13:22