Synonyms of theocracy

theocracy

noun

1

as in monarchy

a system of government in which a religious body holds unlimited power

Under a theocracy, an entire nation officially follows one religion.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• monarchy
• monarchism
• dictatorship
• tyranny
• autocracy
• monocracy
• despotism
• totalitarianism
• authoritarianism
• absolutism
• tsarism
• Caesarism
• autarchy
• totalism
• tzarism
• czarism

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• democracy
• freedom
• self-government
• self-rule
• self-governance
• self-determination
• sovereignty
• autonomy
• sovranty

2

as in democracy

a group of people who live in a territory ruled by a religious body

The country was a theocracy governed by religious leaders.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• democracy
• monarchy
• kingdom
• republic
• dictatorship
• province
• sultanate
• principality
• sovereign
• oligarchy
• state
• nation
• nation-state
• domain
• empire
• monocracy
• dominion
• realm
• colony
• country
• city-state
• sovran
• dependency
• ministate
• mandate
• settlement
• duchy
• homeland
• microstate
• soil
• dukedom
• trust territory
• commonwealth
• fatherland
• superpower
• emirate
• seignory
• condominium
• sea power
• world power
• great power
• seigniory
• motherland
• welfare state
• client state
• land
• power
• sovereignty
• sovranty

Examples of theocracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Apocalypse in the Tropics focuses on how the evangelical movement paved the way for the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro and continues to pose the threat of a national theocracy. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024

Bryan understood instinctively that the way to turn American society from a democracy to a theocracy was to start by destroying its schools. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024

As the Middle East’s lone theocracy, Iran has learned to harness Islamist radicalism—Sunni as well as Shiite—better than any of its peers. —Karim Sadjadpour, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2022

Iranian officials have long pointed to turnout as a sign of support for the country's Shiite theocracy, which has been under strain after years of sanctions crushing Iran's economy, mass demonstrations and intense crackdowns on all dissent. —Jon Gambrell, arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2024