1
as in domineering
fond of ordering people around
grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disciplinarian
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dictator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of authoritarian
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
But two Mickeys will come in handy when Marshall engages in authoritarian military cosplay, an act of cruelty pits the colonists against the aliens, and mutually assured destruction needs to be averted unless 17 can broker a detente.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
Chaos ensues as the psychopath blackmails and manipulates key critics — including a police commissioner — and demands all fall in line with his authoritarian ideas, or else.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Look at North Korea and other authoritarian nations.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Adjective
The suspension of programs supporting the promotion of democracy in authoritarian countries, a bipartisan U.S. foreign policy for decades, has left experts wondering if the Trump administration has abandoned that goal.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
But two Mickeys will come in handy when Marshall engages in authoritarian military cosplay, an act of cruelty pits the colonists against the aliens, and mutually assured destruction needs to be averted unless 17 can broker a detente.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
Chaos ensues as the psychopath blackmails and manipulates key critics — including a police commissioner — and demands all fall in line with his authoritarian ideas, or else.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
Look at North Korea and other authoritarian nations.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarian
Adjective
-
Since then, he’s portrayed a colorful collection of characters, from a domineering theater owner in Shakespeare in Love to Pirates of the Caribbean’s villain turned hero, Captain Hector Barbossa.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
8 Mar. 2025
-
All the while, his domineering mother Bunny (played by the late Frances Sternhagen) is determined to stay the number one woman in her son's life.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Australia has strict biosecurity laws regarding pet imports, with the standard quarantine period set at 10 days.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Some of these laws, OpenAI warned, are modeled after strict European Union laws that OpenAI claimed the federal government should reject replicating due to alleged limits on innovation.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Both were industrious strivers at work and strict disciplinarians at home.—
Danielle Amir Jackson,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
-
After three years with John Fox, Pace didn’t need to fully reset the culture inside Halas Hall and bring in an experienced disciplinarian because Fox had helped clean up the mess left behind by the Phil Emery/Marc Trestman administration.—
Adam Jahns,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
He was deployed to Panama as a part of Operation Just Cause, a U.S. mission that ended with the surrender of the Central American country's dictator, Gen. Manuel Noriega.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
14 Mar. 2025
-
As Catholic journalist and historian Emilio Mignone has documented, would-be dictators General Jorge Rafael Videla and Admiral Emilio Massera met with church leaders the night before their March 1976 coup and on the day itself, receiving guarantees of support.—
Federico Perelmuter,
The Dial,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
So this kind of parallel can easily be drawn between Iran and other countries, [including those with] an arrogant isolation program, definitely.—
Georg Szalai,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Mar. 2025
-
One of the targets of his reign of terror is arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen, played by Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush admitted to the facility after being left partially paralyzed after a stroke.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Five years ago this week, the television industry rose to the challenge of keeping news, daytime and late-night talk shows and other topical series on the air during the harsh early months of the COVID pandemic.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2025
-
The Patriots are paying for potential more than immediate production, so the F grade feels harsh.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
But Muir’s co-moderator, Linsey Davis, was a different case: Davis wore a mannish, gray suit jacket and struck a pose of martinet — almost schoolmarmish — solemnity.—
Armond White,
National Review,
20 Sep. 2024
-
There’s Cece’s father, long vanished; Ronnie, a predator; Marcel, a martinet; Joel, a manipulator; and a random catcaller in the street, whom Cece sends scurrying away by turning her acting skills to practical use.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
12 June 2024
Noun
-
Laws, amendments, and constitutions have never mattered to tyrants, particularly those tyrants forced with making and enforcing laws, amendments, and constitutions.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
That’s classically how a demagogue works and how a demagogue becomes a tyrant.—
Sean Illing,
Vox,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarian. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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