authoritarian

au·thor·i·tar·i·an

adj
\ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən, ə-, -ˌthȯr-\

Definition of AUTHORITARIAN

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

— au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism \-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

Examples of AUTHORITARIAN

1. <grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world>
2. <an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp>

First Known Use of AUTHORITARIAN

1879

Related to AUTHORITARIAN

Synonyms: bossy, authoritative, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, peremptory, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

Antonyms: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant

Related Words: arrogant, assumptive, disdainful, fastuous, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-hat, huffy, important, lofty, lordly, overweening, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, proud, self-asserting, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity; commanding, controlling, dictating, regimental; arbitrary, high-handed, imperial; directorial, magisterial; aggressive, assertive, self-assertive; imperative; conceited, narcissistic, pompous, vain; all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent; firm, stern

Near Antonyms: humble, meek, modest, unassuming; amenable, docile, obedient, tractable; indecisive, irresolute; acquiescent, compliant, passive, resigned, submissive, yielding

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with AUTHORITARIAN

abecedarian, Austro-Hungarian, communitarian, disciplinarian, documentarian, egalitarian, humanitarian, majoritarian, nonagenarian, octogenarian, parliamentarian, postmillenarian, premillenarian, predestinarian, sexagenarian, totalitarian, utilitarian, veterinarian