Freethinker
n.thoughtful, capableprofessional
What it means
A person who forms conclusions independently of convention.
Reach for it when naming a person who forms conclusions independently of convention or authority
The curious freethinker tested each claim against the evidence.
Choose between these
6- professional
independent thinker
plain wording emphasizes intellectual self-direction
not when Independence does not guarantee careful evidence or sound reasoning.
- professional
skeptic
claims are withheld pending adequate evidence
not when A skeptic may still follow convention and need not reject authority broadly.
- formal
dissenter
a person publicly rejects an established position
not when Dissent can concern one issue only.
- formal
nonconformist
departure from accepted beliefs is central
not when Nonconformism can be social or aesthetic rather than intellectual.
- formal
rationalist
reason is treated as the primary guide
not when Rationalist names a philosophy and is not interchangeable with freethinker.
- literary
iconoclast
accepted beliefs or institutions are boldly challenged
not when Iconoclast suggests aggression and can reward contrarianism.
Said against
3- conformist
- dogmatist
- orthodox adherent
It naturally appears in
3- independent freethinker
The independent freethinker tested each claim.
- religious freethinker
The archive records the work of a religious freethinker.
- known freethinker
She was a known freethinker in the university town.