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Autos in Greek means "same" or "self", so in an autocratic government all the power is held by the leader him- or herself. Autocratic governments are often called dictatorships, or sometimes autocracies. In everyday life, a teacher, a parent, or a football coach can all behave like autocrats as well.
Examples of autocratic in a Sentence
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
Recent Examples on the Web
The great power contest today seems to be between who will lead an increasingly autocratic world, and China is moving into the lead.
—
Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
London — The United States is sliding into 1930s-style autocratic politics, billionaire Ray Dalio has warned.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Americans from New Hampshire to Idaho and Texas are uprooting their lives and fleeing in fear of the Trump Administration's autocratic policies.
—Stacey Abrams, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Warnings of Bukele's turn to autocratic rule came as early as eight months into his presidency.
—Juanita Goebertus, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
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Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
London — The United States is sliding into 1930s-style autocratic politics, billionaire Ray Dalio has warned.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Americans from New Hampshire to Idaho and Texas are uprooting their lives and fleeing in fear of the Trump Administration's autocratic policies.
—Stacey Abrams, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Warnings of Bukele's turn to autocratic rule came as early as eight months into his presidency.
—Juanita Goebertus, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocratic. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
autocratic
adjective
au·to·crat·ic
ˌȯt-ə-ˈkrat-ik 
: of, relating to, or resembling autocracy or an autocrat
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