1
as in monarchy
a system of government in which a religious body holds unlimited power
Under a theocracy, an entire nation officially follows one religion.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in democracy
a group of people who live in a territory ruled by a religious body
The country was a theocracy governed by religious leaders.
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of theocracy
In the wake of Amini’s death in 2022, mass protests calling for the theocracy’s dissolution broke out Iran and around the world.
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Anika Seth, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Recommended Biden’s immigration announcement explained in 3 questions Meanwhile, as Iran’s election campaign goes on, presidential candidates are using Instagram, X, and Telegram – all services previously banned by the theocracy after rounds of nationwide protests.
—Jon Gambrell and Nasser Karimi, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2024
Apocalypse in the Tropics focuses on how the evangelical movement paved the way for the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro and continues to pose the threat of a national theocracy.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
Bryan understood instinctively that the way to turn American society from a democracy to a theocracy was to start by destroying its schools.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for theocracy 
Anika Seth, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Recommended Biden’s immigration announcement explained in 3 questions Meanwhile, as Iran’s election campaign goes on, presidential candidates are using Instagram, X, and Telegram – all services previously banned by the theocracy after rounds of nationwide protests.
—Jon Gambrell and Nasser Karimi, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2024
Apocalypse in the Tropics focuses on how the evangelical movement paved the way for the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro and continues to pose the threat of a national theocracy.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
Bryan understood instinctively that the way to turn American society from a democracy to a theocracy was to start by destroying its schools.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for theocracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theocracy
Noun
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The website of the State of Nebraska legislature notes that the founders of this country specifically rejected the establishment of a monarchy, which by definition eschews participatory governance.Blake D. Morant, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
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In recent years, the British monarchy has adopted a more conciliatory tone when addressing the past horrors of transatlantic slavery.Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
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From the economy and democracy to reproductive rights and the Supreme Court, everyone is anxious about something, and managers face the extremely difficult task of trying to calm that anxiety and keep teams focused.Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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She was born into an era when women didn’t have the right to vote and racial barriers prevented Black Americans from fully participating in democracy.Melissa Noel, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But for anyone outside the British elite, the constitutional monarchism that emerged after the civil wars did not look much like democracy or true liberty.Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
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Yet, paradoxically, the regular waves of anti-monarchism were held at bay largely by the sheer, irrefutable fact of her continued existence.Vulture, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2022
Noun
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The King has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom.Zac Ntim, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
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From the commemoration of King Rama’s return to his kingdom after defeating Ravana to the reverence of Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance and prosperity, various sects of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism commune in ceremony.Prinita Thevarajah, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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His thirty-two-year hard-line dictatorship witnessed political assassinations and the violent suppression of human rights by his army.Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
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The peace plan tried to secure Arab recognition of Israel’s 1967 conquests, in exchange for more American aid and arms sales to the brutal Egyptian, Saudi and Emirati dictatorships.Caise D. Hassan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The upcoming election is an indicator in how much longer the American republic will last.Roger Valdez, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
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Democrats were also disappointed that Walz didn’t seize every opportunity to attack J. D. Vance and Donald Trump as MAGA extremists threatening the republic.Matthew Continetti, National Review, 5 Oct. 2024
Articles Related to theocracy
Thesaurus Entries Near theocracy
Cite this Entry
“Theocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theocracy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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