dictator

dic·ta·tor

noun \ˈdik-ˌtā-tər, dik-ˈ\

Definition of DICTATOR

1

a : a person granted absolute emergency power; especially : one appointed by the senate of ancient Rome b : one holding complete autocratic control c : one ruling absolutely and often oppressively

2

: one that dictates

Examples of DICTATOR

1. The country was ruled by a military dictator.
2. <the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance>

Origin of DICTATOR

Latin, from dictare

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DICTATOR

Synonyms: caesar, despot, führer (or fuehrer), oppressor, pharaoh, strongman, tyrannizer, tyrant

Related Words: autarch, autocrat, monocrat; authoritarian, Big Brother, paramount, potentate, totalitarian; caudillo, overlord, warlord; boss, captain, chief, dominator, kingpin, leader, master, overlord, ruler; king, lord, monarch, prince, queen, sovereign (also sovran); baron, czar (also tsar or tzar), magnate, mogul, tycoon; disciplinarian, discipliner, enforcer, martinet, taskmaster

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Other Government and Politics Terms

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

Rhymes with DICTATOR

aerator, castrator, collator, Chubb Crater, Bay Stater, creator, curator, debater, deflator, dilator, donator, downstater, dumbwaiter, equator, first-rater, glossator, headwaiter, ice-skater, levator, locator, mandator, migrator, narrator, pond skater, pronator, pulsator, red-baiter, relater, spectator, speed skater, tailgater, testator, theater, third-rater, titrator, translator, upstater, vibrator