as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
concerning absolutism Lord Acton famously observed that "absolute power corrupts absolutely"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of absolutism
So the same establishment that had once helped push a Qajar shah toward constitutionalism helped pull a Pahlavi shah back from exile and back into absolutism.
—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Social media, ideological sorting, and the emotional intensity of war encourage absolutism.
—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.
—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
As Perez wrote, Musk’s free-speech absolutism was a fiction perpetuated by a pliant media.
—
Jacob Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for absolutism
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Social media, ideological sorting, and the emotional intensity of war encourage absolutism.
—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.
—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
As Perez wrote, Musk’s free-speech absolutism was a fiction perpetuated by a pliant media.
—
Jacob Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for absolutism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absolutism
Noun
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For every Founding Father looking to free the colonies from British tyranny, there was a Larry (often called Lawrence here) who suggests that sharing desserts and umbrellas should be prohibited by the Declaration of Independence.
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In Shiite communities, Ashoura is viewed as a symbol of struggle against injustice and tyranny.
Noun
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Building tension gave way to war in 1982, when Argentina, then under a brutal dictatorship, sent a military expedition to the islands.
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Public anger over Chun’s dictatorship led to massive nationwide protests in 1987, forcing him to accept a constitutional revision introducing direct presidential elections, which is widely seen as the start of South Korea’s transition to democracy.
Noun
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This book keeps my feet on the ground and my heart connected to the greater pulse suffering under late-stage capitalism and fascism.
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Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real.
Noun
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The nation which will not adopt an equilibrium of power must adopt a despotism.
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His dream was nothing less than a new reality, a hopeful future free of despotism, ruled by equality and liberty, rather than kings and queens.
Noun
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The good ones who are trying to carefully transition a country from democracy to autocracy don't do it overnight.
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Once in office, Putin installed Vadim as an adviser to help consolidate his administration into an autocracy responsible for the suppression of civil liberties, for wars in Chechnya and Ukraine, and for a campaign of disinformation and interference in Western democracies.
Noun
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Rent it on most major platforms Forbidden to enter the stadium, several Iranian women sneak in dressed as men to watch a World Cup qualifying match in the master director Jafar Panahi’s movie about everyday defiance under authoritarianism.
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The handmaids’ crimson robes evolved into protest iconography around the world because the story captured fears about authoritarianism and gender more viscerally than overt political messaging ever could.
Noun
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Visual artist and historian Ranfis Suárez Ramos highlighted the importance of internet access for Cubans as a way to break the hold of totalitarianism.
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His parents’ experience living under totalitarianism shaped his outlook on the world.
Cite this Entry
“Absolutism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absolutism. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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