free thought

noun

: unorthodox attitudes or beliefs
specifically : 18th century deism

Examples of free thought in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Falwell championed a vision of America rooted in obedience to biblical authority and conformity with traditional values, placing him in tension with Enlightenment principles like individual rights, rational inquiry, and free thought. — Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 China’s decades-long economic boom was slowing, and the government’s choke hold on free thought was sending ambitious people abroad. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Responding to those sparks of abolitionist free thought with violent repression, including acts such as the Sumner caning, slaveholders’ violence fueled the rise of the new Republican Party. — Paul Quigley, The Conversation, 13 July 2026 The Founders recognized that free thought is not just a right but a difficult responsibility. — Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for free thought

Word History

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free thought was in 1711

Rhymes for free thought

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Browse Nearby Words

freethinking
free thought
free throw
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Cite this Entry

“Free thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20thought. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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