as in liberalism
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom
a rising politician who is being hailed as the new voice of the left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in abandoned
to cause to remain behind
you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while we're outside starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bequeathed
to give by means of a will
I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in quit
to give up (a job or office)
he left his job in the city and moved out into the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in handed
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in dumped
to end a usually intimate relationship with
is there ever a good way to leave a lover?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in allowed
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of left
Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Her father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, was a prominent figure on the Venezuelan radical left in the 1960s and 1970s and the founder of a Marxist party.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
On the left, Presidents Gabriel Boric of Chile, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico expressed deep concerns.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
The door on the left leads up to two massive duplexes, stacked on top of each other, which each stretch the width and length of the building — 25-by-52 feet — giving the units about as much square footage as a small townhouse.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for left
Noun
All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams was ruled out 90 minutes before the game after suffering a hamstring injury early in the win over Chicago.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for left
Noun
-
This, together with the fragmented working class and weak community roots of Lindsay’s liberalism, left the city unable to fight the wave of neoliberal austerity measures that faced the city.—
-
Likewise, should Madisonian liberalism regain its footing, the assumptions political scientists have relied on for so long will once again appear to many as eternal truths.—
Verb
-
Throughout the history of gold panning, workers had never been abandoned in remote or forgotten areas of the jungle.—
-
The buildings were abandoned as the public school system grew more welcoming of Black students, and many of the sites have been lost, historians say.—
Verb
-
There are also wooden pews made for the school’s Bond Chapel and 72,000 glass slides from the art-history department, all of which were bequeathed to Gates over the years.—
-
Following her death in 2022, the tiara was bequeathed to Queen Camilla.—
Verb
-
Placer County, which estimates that 16,000 residents could lose health care coverage by 2028, quit operating its own clinics nearly a decade ago.—
-
After quitting acting, Kibrick attended the University of Southern California and worked in real estate development.—
Verb
-
In a preseason contest against Arizona, though, Webb was handed the play-calling reins and widely impressed in a 27-7 win.—
-
Over the last few years, HBO has handed Maher a two season deal each time, the last one in 2024.—
Verb
-
On June 15, the Red Sox dumped Devers and the remainder of his contract on the San Francisco Giants.—
-
Less than two minutes later, on a fast break, Jalen Douglas faked a shot, then dumped the ball down low to Sims, who scored on a layup.—
Verb
-
Farina was granted primary custody of Sophia and will be allowed to move from Louisiana to Las Vegas with the child, according to court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE.—
-
Herro’s return and move to the bench allowed the Heat to use him in Jaquez’s usual sixth man role on Tuesday.—
Verb
-
But here, stranded alongside Bradley Cooper (who has the same deer-in-headlights look), she’s completely lost as a Depression-era woman who goes mad after losing a child and directs her fury at a woman who had an illegitimate son with her husband years earlier.—
-
Researchers hypothesize that Earhart did not crash at sea, but instead landed and was stranded on Nikumaroro Island, later perishing there.—
Cite this Entry
“Left.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/left. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share