1
as in arbitrary
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a dictatorial leader with total control over people's lives
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
no surprise that the dictatorial manager is highly unpopular among employees
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrogant
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
even the teachers chafed under the dictatorial rule of the principal
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Recent Examples of dictatorial
The couple have been Biles’ safe zone, nurturing her after the more dictatorial approach of the Karolyis.
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Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 6 Aug. 2024
Fascism is a populist political movement which advocates putting the nation first through a centralized, autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader who controls the economy and suppresses opposition.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Applying his dictatorial power, Kuhn banned me from the locker rooms.
—Melissa Ludtke, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024
The safe haven known as the Nest is under attack, with France’s dictatorial leader Genet (Anne Charrier) leading the charge.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictatorial 
Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 6 Aug. 2024
Fascism is a populist political movement which advocates putting the nation first through a centralized, autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader who controls the economy and suppresses opposition.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Applying his dictatorial power, Kuhn banned me from the locker rooms.
—Melissa Ludtke, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024
The safe haven known as the Nest is under attack, with France’s dictatorial leader Genet (Anne Charrier) leading the charge.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictatorial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictatorial
Adjective
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Get the ring that’s perfect for the woman, not the ring whose price tag aligns with an arbitrary algorithm. 18.Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
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After all, so many of the norms that make disability so inconvenient—font sizes, the height at which a drawing is hung—are utterly arbitrary, and so can be reinvented.Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Not like those nasty authoritarian regimes (which actually do take in a lot of migrants in some cases, just ones whose diversity contribution isn’t as superficial).Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 28 Dec. 2024
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Solzhenitsyn’s exploration and critique of Soviet history and authoritarian power never ceased.Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Some media outlets are surrendering to Trump already This absurd boasting — arrogant without portfolio — is just what Trump is looking for in the VOA job.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
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Angle was able to alter between arrogant heel and lovable goofball almost on a whim.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Assad, while widely seen as an oppressive dictator and accused of using chemical weapons against his own people, was championed as a protector of Shiite Muslim sects, Christian communities, and other religious groups.Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024
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Both the Hatter and the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) get boilerplate tragic origins in a cluttered plot that’s drowned out by the hideous, oppressive visual effects.Josh Bell, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Attitude Era succeeded on the backs of all-time greats Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, with Vince McMahon a domineering force both behind the scenes and on camera.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
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Taurus April 20 – May 20 You might currently be motivated to stand your ground against a domineering authority figure.Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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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
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And some worry that HTS could slide into it's own kind of autocratic regime.NPR, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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What China needed was something like a final emperor, the breaker of the despotic chain who would summon modernity by fiat.Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
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Small steps toward normality are still sufficient, after decades of despotic rule that brought suffering to almost every household.Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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What’s more, Rose engages in tyrannical behavior, causing June to flee and later exploiting Louise and thrusting her into the burlesque business against her will.Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
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Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical twin emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dictatorial
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictatorial. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.
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