give freedom; release from captivity or oppression
example
The firefighters arrived shortly after the building collapsed and worked to liberate the residents from the debris.
synonyms
emancipatefreerescue
word origin — late 16th century (as adjective): from Latin liberat- ‘freed’, from the verb liberare, from liber ‘free’
liberate, conform, rebel, contradict, hinder: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from Advanced set 78. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
liberate · verb/ˈlɪbəˌreɪt/
give freedom; release from captivity or oppression
The firefighters arrived shortly after the building collapsed and worked to liberate the residents from the debris.
Synonyms: emancipate, free, rescue
Origin: late 16th century (as adjective): from Latin liberat- ‘freed’, from the verb liberare, from liber ‘free’
conform · verb/kənˈfɔrm/
follow rules or laws; act in a similar way to others
Several young girls at the dance academy had developed eating disorders after feeling pressured to conform to the standard of a lean figure.
Synonyms: comply, obey, adapt
Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘make (something) like another thing’): from Old French conformer, from Latin conformare, from con- ‘together’ + formare ‘to form’
rebel · verb/ˈrɛb(ə)l/
disobey or fight against
Research suggests that teenagers have a higher tendency to rebel against parents that do not respect their privacy and independence.
Synonyms: protest, revolt, defy
Origin: Middle English: from Old French rebelle (noun), rebeller (verb), from Latin rebellis (used originally with reference to a fresh declaration of war by the defeated), based on bellum ‘war’
contradict · verb/ˌkɑntrəˈdɪk(t)/
express the opposite of a previous argument
Recent studies in neuroscience have contradicted some earlier assumptions on the differences between male and female brains, showing they are far more similar than previously thought.
Synonyms: challenge, refute, oppose
Origin: late 16th century: from Latin contradict- ‘spoken against’, from the verb contradicere, originally contra dicere ‘speak against’
hinder · verb/ˈhɪndər/
make something difficult to achieve
The many injuries he suffered over the past two years have certainly hindered his football career.
Synonyms: impede, obstruct, interfere
Origin: Old English hindrian ‘injure or damage’, of Germanic origin; related to German hindern, also to behind