liberatory

American  

[lib-ruh-tawr-ee, lib-er-uh-tawr-ee] / ˈlɪb rəˌtɔr i, ˈlɪb ər əˌtɔr i /

adjective

1. having a liberating effect; liberating.

---

Explanation

If something is liberatory, it gives you a sense of freedom and relief. If you're bored waiting for something to end so that you can go home, the signal that you can finally leave is liberatory. Liberatory comes from a Latin word liberare meaning "to set free." This is also where we get words like liberation and liberally. It can refer to something that gives literal freedom, like a clock chiming when it's time to go home, or metaphorical freedom, like a book that gives you a new perspective.

Example Sentences

Seniors are favorite characters of Ms. Williams, avatars of a spirit of liberatory indifference.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

Over time Rushkoff watched the promising liberatory nature of technology be squashed by billionaire techno-capitalists.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2024

What digital culture has done is so extraordinary in so many liberatory and mesmeratory ways — and so many punishing and brutal and shaming ways, for sure.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2022

Maybe it shouldn’t have been so difficult, and maybe the slog of this film will serve a therapeutic or liberatory end.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2022

How moments of liberation, which are often not just a moment, but nonetheless, more finite pushes that are liberatory.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2021