as in tyrant
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance
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Recent Examples of dictator
The late-night host spent the majority of his monologue segment celebrating the news that President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria had fallen to rebel forces, who united from across the nation against the brutal dictator.
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Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Gabbard, a Democratic 2020 presidential candidate turned Republican Trump ally, advocates for anti-interventionist foreign policy and has been criticized for her seemingly warm view of dictators.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
While the country would not formally transition to democracy until 1987, the shock caused by the violence in Gwangju was seen as a pivotal catalyst for change that helped make Chun the nation's last dictator.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
Rubio was a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s concessions to Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro’s regime, which did not prevent Maduro from reportedly stealing the nation’s presidential election in July.
—Miami Herald Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictator 
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Gabbard, a Democratic 2020 presidential candidate turned Republican Trump ally, advocates for anti-interventionist foreign policy and has been criticized for her seemingly warm view of dictators.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
While the country would not formally transition to democracy until 1987, the shock caused by the violence in Gwangju was seen as a pivotal catalyst for change that helped make Chun the nation's last dictator.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
Rubio was a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s concessions to Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro’s regime, which did not prevent Maduro from reportedly stealing the nation’s presidential election in July.
—Miami Herald Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictator
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Cite this Entry
“Dictator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictator. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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