Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense liberalizes, present participle liberalizing, past tense, past participle liberalizedregional note: in BRIT, also use liberalise
verb
When a country or government liberalizes, or liberalizes its laws or its attitudes, it becomes less strict and allows people more freedom in their actions.
...authoritarian states that have only now begun to liberalise. [VERB]
...the decision to liberalize travel restrictions. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: relax, ease, moderate, modify More Synonyms of liberalize
liberalization (lɪbrəlaɪzeɪʃən)uncountable noun
...the liberalization of divorce laws in the late 1960s. [+ of]
liberalize in British English
or liberalise (ˈlɪbərəˌlaɪz, ˈlɪbrə-)
verb
to make or become liberal
Derived forms
liberalization (ˌliberaliˈzation) or liberalisation (ˌliberaliˈsation)
noun
liberalizer (ˈliberalˌizer) or liberaliser (ˈliberalˌiser)
noun
liberalize in American English
(ˈlɪbərəlˌaɪz; ˈlɪbrəlˌaɪz)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈliberalˌized or ˈliberalˌizing
to make or become liberal
Derived forms
liberalization (ˌliberaliˈzation)
noun
liberalizer (ˈliberalˌizer)
noun
Synonyms of 'liberalize'
relax, ease, moderate, modify
More Synonyms of liberalize
In other languages
liberalize
British English: liberalize VERB
When a country or government liberalizes, or liberalizes its laws or its attitudes, it becomes less strict and allows people more freedom in their actions.
...authoritarian states that have only now begun to liberalise.
American English: liberalize
Brazilian Portuguese: liberalizar
Chinese: 放宽
European Spanish: liberalizar
French: libéraliser
German: liberalisieren
Italian: liberalizzare
Japanese: 自由化する
Korean: 시스템을 완화하다
European Portuguese: liberalizar
Latin American Spanish: liberalizar
(verb)
Definition
to make (a law) less strict
the decision to liberalize travel restrictions
Synonyms
relax
Rules governing student conduct have been relaxed in recent years.
ease
I made her a hot water bottle to ease the pain.
moderate
The crisis has moderated somewhat.
modify
He had to modify his language considerably.
stretch
soften
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
broaden
loosen
There is no sign that the Party will loosen its grip on the country.
mitigate
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
slacken
Her grip slackened on his arm.
ameliorate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ease
Definition
to make or become less difficult or severe
I made her a hot water bottle to ease the pain.
Synonyms
relieve,
calm,
moderate,
soothe,
lessen,
alleviate,
appease,
lighten,
lower,
allay,
relax,
still,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
tranquillize,
palliate
in the sense of loosen
Definition
to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid
There is no sign that the Party will loosen its grip on the country.
Synonyms
weaken,
relax,
lessen,
release,
reduce,
slacken
in the sense of mitigate
Definition
to make less severe or harsh
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
Synonyms
ease,
moderate,
soften,
check,
quiet,
calm,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
temper,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
appease,
lighten,
remit,
allay,
placate,
abate,
tone down,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
take the edge off,
extenuate,
tranquillize,
palliate,
reduce the force of
Synonyms of 'liberalize'
liberalize
Explore 'liberalize' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of moderate
Definition
to make or become less extreme or violent
The crisis has moderated somewhat.
Synonyms
lessen,
relax,
ease,
wane,
abate
in the sense of modify
Definition
to make less extreme or uncompromising
He had to modify his language considerably.
Synonyms
tone down,
limit,
reduce,
lower,
qualify,
relax,
ease,
restrict,
moderate,
temper,
soften,
restrain,
lessen,
abate
in the sense of slacken
Definition
to make or become looser
Her grip slackened on his arm.
Synonyms
loosen,
release,
relax,
weaken,
lessen,
become looser
in the sense of soften
Definition
to make or become more sympathetic and less critical
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.