liberalize

American  

[lib-er-uh-lahyz, lib-ruh-] / ˈlɪb ər əˌlaɪz, ˈlɪb rə- /

especially British, liberalise

verb (used with or without object)

liberalized, liberalizing

1. to make or become liberal.

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liberalize British  

/ ˈlɪbərəˌlaɪz, ˈlɪbrə- /

verb

1. to make or become liberal

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Other Word Forms

• liberalization noun
• liberalizer noun
• overliberalize verb
• unliberalized adjective

Etymology

Origin of liberalize

First recorded in 1765–75; liberal + -ize

Example Sentences

Issued under Deng Xiaoping, Document 19 was often presented to the outside world as a liberalizing gesture, since it criticized the excesses of the Cultural Revolution and permitted “normal religious activities” under state supervision.

From The Wall Street Journal

Milei has already proved that something is different, just by getting elected two years ago on a promise to shrink the state, liberalize the economy and balance the budget—and, so far, by delivering.

From The Wall Street Journal

Another called the event “an insidious tool to project a misleading image of the country’s incremental efforts to liberalize.”

From The Wall Street Journal

At the same time, he made great strides in deregulating the economy and liberalizing trade.

From Barron's

In the Cold War, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and doubled down on global revolution even while benefiting from the detente era’s liberalized trade.

From The Wall Street Journal