Orwellian

adjective

Or·​well·​ian ȯr-ˈwe-lē-ən How to pronounce Orwellian (audio)
: of, relating to, or suggestive of George Orwell or his writings
especially : relating to or suggestive of the dystopian reality depicted in the novel 1984
Privacy advocates … warn that advances in technology and data collection simply make an Orwellian slippery slope even more slippery. Barbara Presley Noble
Some critics view knowledge engineering as a threat, as the vanguard of an Orwellian future in which thinking machines take control. Robert Reinhold
The X-Files and its spooky televised brethren dwell in that political twilight zone where left and right meet and greet—an Orwellian, Kafka-esque alien nation that's populated with suspicious folks who have too much time on their hands and a deep sense that something is horribly, horribly wrong. David Wild
Now despised and feared, the Army has become a virtual occupation force in its own country, compounding what was already an Orwellian nightmare of spies, doublespeak propaganda, curfews, and petty state control of daily life. Clayton Jones
Orwellianism
ȯr-ˈwe-lē-ə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce Orwellian (audio)
-ˈwel-yə-ˌni-zəm
noun
Orwellianism isn't just about big government; it's about authoritarianism coupled with lies. Gordon Bowker

Examples of Orwellian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Trump's years-long Orwellian disinformation campaign justifying the riot as legitimate political expression and lionizing the perpetrators as heroes suffering from unjust persecution succeeded in muddying what should have been crystal-clear waters. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025 The ban, under the Orwellian name Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, goes into effect on Jan. 19, a day before the new president takes office. The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 2 Jan. 2025 For now, the OAA and its vital programs are caught up in an Orwellian paradox. Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 In recent years, a number of Western democracies have been roiled by controversies in which spyware has been used, apparently by defense and intelligence agencies, to target opposition politicians, journalists, and apolitical civilians caught up in Orwellian surveillance dragnets. Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Orwellian 

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Orwellian was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near Orwellian

Cite this Entry

“Orwellian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Orwellian. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

Orwellian

adjective
Or·​well·​ian
ȯr-ˈwel-ē-ən
: of, relating to, or suggestive of George Orwell or his writings
especially : relating to or suggestive of the dystopian reality depicted in the novel 1984
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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