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Autos in Greek means "same" or "self", so in an autocratic government all the power is held by the leader him- or herself. Autocratic governments are often called dictatorships, or sometimes autocracies. In everyday life, a teacher, a parent, or a football coach can all behave like autocrats as well.
Synonyms
Examples of autocratic in a Sentence
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
Recent Examples on the Web
The Assad dynasty’s autocratic rule in Syria was marked by decades of fighting, bloodshed and oppressive political crackdown.
—
Eyad Kourdi, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Vucevic stepped down following weeks of demonstrations generated by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy, which reflected discontent at the increasingly autocratic rule of President Aleksandar Vučić.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
In Russia, the autocratic leader Vladimir Putin has embraced an ideology of nationalist imperialism, consolidating economic resources through state expansionism; Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has corroded the global norm against territorial conquest.
—Michael Brenes, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025
Very quickly after Assad and his family fled Syria when the autocratic ruler was toppled last month, ordinary Syrians entered the previously off-limits home — and looted it.
—Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 25 Jan. 2025
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Eyad Kourdi, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Vucevic stepped down following weeks of demonstrations generated by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy, which reflected discontent at the increasingly autocratic rule of President Aleksandar Vučić.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
In Russia, the autocratic leader Vladimir Putin has embraced an ideology of nationalist imperialism, consolidating economic resources through state expansionism; Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has corroded the global norm against territorial conquest.
—Michael Brenes, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025
Very quickly after Assad and his family fled Syria when the autocratic ruler was toppled last month, ordinary Syrians entered the previously off-limits home — and looted it.
—Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for autocratic
Dictionary Entries Near autocratic
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocratic. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
autocratic
adjective
au·to·crat·ic
ˌȯt-ə-ˈkrat-ik 
: of, relating to, or resembling autocracy or an autocrat
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