as in rulers
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
European autocrats once commonly believed that they had received the right to rule directly from God
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of autocrats
If not, aggressive autocrats around the world could learn that violating the sovereignty of weaker neighbors pays off.
—
Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
And the courts, one of our best places to fight these autocrats, could quickly run out of money.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
As Carol continues her search for Daryl stateside, the scraggly drifter finds himself on the wrong side of French autocrats while protecting a young boy (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) and a nun (Clémence Poésy), who are trying to flee a religious cult that believes the young man is their messiah.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Repressive autocrats around the world know this full well.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
While Kyiv wrestles to persuade waffling Western leaders, Russia is building a coalition of autocrats to fortify the Kremlin’s war effort.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2025
However, doing so could also tarnish America's image as a safe place to do business, and also send a green light to corrupt autocrats ruling over impoverished people to get even richer.
—CBS News, 12 Feb. 2025
Elected autocrats also routinely use defamation suits and other forms of legal action to silence their critics in the media.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
This kind of patrimonial logic helped autocrats in Hungary, Russia, and Turkey secure private-sector cooperation.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
And the courts, one of our best places to fight these autocrats, could quickly run out of money.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
As Carol continues her search for Daryl stateside, the scraggly drifter finds himself on the wrong side of French autocrats while protecting a young boy (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) and a nun (Clémence Poésy), who are trying to flee a religious cult that believes the young man is their messiah.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Repressive autocrats around the world know this full well.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
While Kyiv wrestles to persuade waffling Western leaders, Russia is building a coalition of autocrats to fortify the Kremlin’s war effort.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2025
However, doing so could also tarnish America's image as a safe place to do business, and also send a green light to corrupt autocrats ruling over impoverished people to get even richer.
—CBS News, 12 Feb. 2025
Elected autocrats also routinely use defamation suits and other forms of legal action to silence their critics in the media.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
This kind of patrimonial logic helped autocrats in Hungary, Russia, and Turkey secure private-sector cooperation.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocrats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocrats. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share