Paternalistic means the act of being overly protective, controlling or authoritative. Its antonyms are: democratic, emancipating, egalitarian, unrestrictive, and liberal. The direct opposites of paternalistic could be egalitarianism, individualism, libertarianism, liberation, autonomy or freedom. Democratic refers to a society where everyone has equal rights and an equal say in decision making. Unrestrictive means the absence of rules with the opportunity for everyone to express themselves freely. Emancipating implies the act of setting everyone free from oppression, domination or control. Liberal means open to new ideas and perspectives without being judgmental, autocratic, or critical.

What are the antonyms for Paternalistic?

• adj.

  • noun
  • maternal
  .

Usage examples for Paternalistic

Famous quotes with Paternalistic

• I have the right to do whatever I wish with my property. If I own a pile of wood, I can set fire to it even if it is currently nailed together in the shape of a barn. Cigarettes may not be healthy for me in the long run, but I have the freedom to smoke them anyway. Drinking alcohol may or may not have negative side effects, but even if it does, the government has no authority to prohibit you from consuming it, even if it is "in your own best interest." Since when do we let the government decide what is or isn't good for us? What the hell does Congress know about nutrition, anyway? (For that matter, what does Congress know about the Constitution?) If the government can use force whenever something is "in our best interest" then government should force everyone to wake up at 6am every morning for calisthenics in the front yard. Fast food establishments should be torn down and replaced with bars that serve carrot juice and alfalfa sprouts, since - "it's in your best interest." This paternalistic attitude that "the government knows best" and that you are merely a helpless child is insulting and reprehensible. Hitler used the same attitude to persuade the Germans to subjugate themselves to the "Fatherland."

  Michael Badnarik
• Political structures are excessively paternalistic, and to maintain them requires a high level of energy. The massive amounts of energy they consume are unsustainable and invite political meltdowns, bailouts, and fallout. On the other hand, proponents of complexity theory take the paradigm–shattering view that less is more. They understand that, paradoxically enough, the complexity of simplicity is the key to the emergence of systems, repeatable patterns and the social glue that holds community together and creates order. Anyone can make simplicity complicated; it takes a true genius to make the complicated simple.

  L. K. Samuels
• And I would like to say we've got no lesson on that score to take from the McConnells, from that has been dominating Quebec like a bunch of Rhodesians! The white group. If we have colours here you feel it and that is something we will not stand any more. This paternalistic, WASP ... and it is that, typically, WASP arrogance of the ones that have been leading our government and to the slush funds that they contribute to leaving both of our hacked bodies by the road for too long.

  René Lévesque

The word "R OF O" does not exist in the English language or any other language. It is likely a typographical error and was intended to be another word. Without the correct word, it...