authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 
ə-,
-ˌthär-
1
: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people
an authoritarian regime
authoritarian
noun
Examples of authoritarian in a Sentence
grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world
an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp
Recent Examples on the Web
In this way, democratic parenting is markedly different from both permissive parenting and authoritarian parenting.
—
Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Mar. 2025
They are also seen as sharing a joint interest in diminishing the role of the U.S. and other liberal democracies in determining world events in favor of their own highly authoritarian systems.
—Christopher Bodeen, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
The abduction of Mahmoud is textbook authoritarian conduct by the MAGA regime.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
This is familiar to many of us in the Hispanic community whose families fled nations where authoritarian or social regimes called the shots, and dissident voices were questioned about their loyalty to the official cause.
—Julio Fuentes, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
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Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Mar. 2025
They are also seen as sharing a joint interest in diminishing the role of the U.S. and other liberal democracies in determining world events in favor of their own highly authoritarian systems.
—Christopher Bodeen, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
The abduction of Mahmoud is textbook authoritarian conduct by the MAGA regime.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
This is familiar to many of us in the Hispanic community whose families fled nations where authoritarian or social regimes called the shots, and dissident voices were questioned about their loyalty to the official cause.
—Julio Fuentes, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritarian. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən
ə-,
-ˌthȯr-
1
: expecting strict obedience to one's authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: based on the principle that the leaders and not the people have the final authority
an authoritarian state
authoritarian
noun
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