authoritarian

au·thor·i·tar·i·an

adjective \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

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