variants
also autocratical
1
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of autocratic
In June, the two autocratic nations signed a new landmark defense pact, pledging to North use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event the other is attacked.
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Lauren Kent, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024
And some worry that HTS could slide into it's own kind of autocratic regime.
—NPR, 13 Dec. 2024
The declaration of a battle between democracy and autocracy came with exemptions for autocratic partners in places like Riyadh and New Delhi.
—Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2024
Assad was swept from power by a lightning-quick rebel offensive after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family’s autocratic rule, and the opulent trappings of a regime that inflicted terror and poverty on Syria's people are now clear for all to see.
—Richard Engel, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for autocratic 
Lauren Kent, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024
And some worry that HTS could slide into it's own kind of autocratic regime.
—NPR, 13 Dec. 2024
The declaration of a battle between democracy and autocracy came with exemptions for autocratic partners in places like Riyadh and New Delhi.
—Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 13 Dec. 2024
Assad was swept from power by a lightning-quick rebel offensive after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family’s autocratic rule, and the opulent trappings of a regime that inflicted terror and poverty on Syria's people are now clear for all to see.
—Richard Engel, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
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But the backdrops are rendered with an oppressive prettiness that has a perverse cheapening effect.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025
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The total absence of shadow is an oppressive sensation, which engenders a feeling similar to that of claustrophobia.New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Yoon’s order faced fierce backlash from the public and lawmakers across the political spectrum, reviving painful memories of the country’s authoritarian past.Gawon Bae, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
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Yes, dollars circulated in authoritarian, murderous Syria because market goods did.John Tamny, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Within this, there are other curiosities: Brentford finding a formula to net in the first minute of three consecutive games; Arsenal, long associated with artful offensive patterns, becoming imperious from corner kicks; Forest’s robust Chris Wood emerging as a bountiful goalscorer at the age of 33.Henry Flynn, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
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Van Dijk is the best version of imperious, so of course captain confident makes it.Rory Smith, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But Valery, despite his lack of power in a despotic system, is able to help others, and finds a way to not just survive his pain but also live with its lasting effects.Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Assad's fall is a globally resonant message that such despotic regimes cannot endure indefinitely.Paul du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald return as love interest Virginia Venit and arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, respectively, and the cast includes rookies like Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce and pro wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
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Those include genial second-year resident Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), arrogant intern Santos (Isa Briones), and doe-eyed med students Javadi (Shabana Azeez) and Whittaker (Gerran Howell).Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Cortland sawing off his own arm and serving it to his tyrannical father — that’s pretty straightforward.Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2025
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The original Caligari, in which a mysterious doctor and his fortune-telling somnambulist commit a series of murders and drive two young people to madness, is often regarded as a critique of Germans’ blind obedience to tyrannical authority during the First World War.Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Still, McGrath and the others are noticing more of a shift away from physical discipline and the tide turning toward authoritative parenting–which McGrath views as a positive development of newer generations opting to base their parenting styles on research rather than tradition.Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 15 Jan. 2025
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In under 20 words, Grisham establishes an authoritative voice, introduces the narrator, and hints at conflict between father and son, sparking curiosity.G Kirilloff, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Kim added that the pursuit of individualism in Korea coexists with a sense of community, rooted in Confucian values, and a collective yearning for freedom stemming from Japanese occupation and dictatorial regimes.Hanna Park, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025
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These are features and not bugs: Spreading fear is the essence of the dictatorial system.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near autocratic
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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