authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 
ə-,
-ˌthär-
1
: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people
an authoritarian regime
authoritarian
noun
Synonyms
Examples of authoritarian in a Sentence
grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world
an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp
Recent Examples on the Web
Expect plenty of hot takes, including a barrage of think pieces, seeing as, in this telling, the Wizard is an authoritarian leader using scapegoating to prey on — and stoke — people’s fears.
—
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Yet, according to a February study by the Pew Research Center, 32% of Americans believe a military regime or an authoritarian leader would be a better way of governing the country.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
Lastly, authoritarian regimes such as those in Venezuela and Nicaragua could see the benefit of a more transactional approach to foreign policy, the new White House happy to overlook their anti-democratic abuses as long as migration trends are reverted.
—Cnn Staff, CNN, 7 Nov. 2024
Key Background Prosecution of political rivals is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, and for a president to impose control over the Justice Department would be a major shift from decades of past practice of agency independence.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for authoritarian 
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Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Yet, according to a February study by the Pew Research Center, 32% of Americans believe a military regime or an authoritarian leader would be a better way of governing the country.
—Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
Lastly, authoritarian regimes such as those in Venezuela and Nicaragua could see the benefit of a more transactional approach to foreign policy, the new White House happy to overlook their anti-democratic abuses as long as migration trends are reverted.
—Cnn Staff, CNN, 7 Nov. 2024
Key Background Prosecution of political rivals is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, and for a president to impose control over the Justice Department would be a major shift from decades of past practice of agency independence.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for authoritarian
Dictionary Entries Near authoritarian
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritarian. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən
ə-,
-ˌthȯr-
1
: expecting strict obedience to one's authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: based on the principle that the leaders and not the people have the final authority
an authoritarian state
authoritarian
noun
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