as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
a critical period that saw a number of third-world countries abandon authoritarianism for democracy
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Recent Examples of authoritarianism
The protesters from across the Czech Republic attended the peaceful demonstration Saturday at Letna Park, the scene of huge gatherings in 1989 during the Velvet Revolution that ushered in democracy after decades of communist authoritarianism.
—
Karel Janicek, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
When seen like that, as a sequence of facts, the logic of authoritarianism becomes clear.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Such a nakedly partisan message would not work in Boca, where the Republican base cares less about Trumpian authoritarianism and more about high quality of life and low taxes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
These days, Turcios’s politics encompass economic populism, America First nationalism, and religious authoritarianism.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
Nations can’t just blink away the nightmares of authoritarianism or assume that removing a strongman will resolve the societal conditions that led to his rise.
—Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
For over three decades, Khamenei subjected Iranians to severe authoritarianism and repression, culminating in him ordering the security forces to shoot and kill thousands of Iranians during the protests in January 2026, not to mention those in previous years.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Putting private anguish and public witnessing into forceful tension, Paksa fashioned a productively ambivalent rubric for the artist under authoritarianism.
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
The change of mentality is profound, even with the obstacles left behind by 12 years of authoritarianism.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Karel Janicek, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
When seen like that, as a sequence of facts, the logic of authoritarianism becomes clear.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Such a nakedly partisan message would not work in Boca, where the Republican base cares less about Trumpian authoritarianism and more about high quality of life and low taxes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
These days, Turcios’s politics encompass economic populism, America First nationalism, and religious authoritarianism.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
Nations can’t just blink away the nightmares of authoritarianism or assume that removing a strongman will resolve the societal conditions that led to his rise.
—Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
For over three decades, Khamenei subjected Iranians to severe authoritarianism and repression, culminating in him ordering the security forces to shoot and kill thousands of Iranians during the protests in January 2026, not to mention those in previous years.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Putting private anguish and public witnessing into forceful tension, Paksa fashioned a productively ambivalent rubric for the artist under authoritarianism.
—Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
The change of mentality is profound, even with the obstacles left behind by 12 years of authoritarianism.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarianism
Noun
-
Cutié, 56, knows about the tyranny many Cubans have lived under.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Was her exclusion from the political world not its own kind of tyranny?—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Thousands marched through Buenos Aires on Tuesday to mark 50 years since the 1976 military coup that ushered in one of Latin America’s bloodiest dictatorships.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
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Unlike more cohesive dictatorships, Iran’s youth, middle class and ethnic minorities — Persians number less than 50% in a nation with seven major ethnic groups — are primed to rise once air power shatters the mullahs’ control.—
Chuck DeVore,
Twin Cities,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hungary had a very weak civil society after 70 years of totalitarian fascism and communism.—
John Shattuck,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
-
This form evolved in the 20th century to address Marxism, fascism and class struggle, challenging traditional narratives through activism and experimental techniques.—
Jane M. Saks,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Researchers argued that career anxiety under autocracy creates both pro-regime henchmen and anti-regime plotters.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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For example, in the 1930s, four major democracies (Germany, Japan, Italy, and Spain) became autocracies.—
Ray Dalio,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Jury President Wim Wenders praised the film for its portrait of life under totalitarianism saying the story would chime with and serve as a wakeup call for people all over the world.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
21 Feb. 2026
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His loathing for totalitarianism was among the very few hatreds Reagan ever held, his biographer Edmund Morris said.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The hope is that the institutional reforms started by the interim administration of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus deliver the necessary checks and balances to avert another lurch toward despotism.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
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The strength and powers of despotism consist wholly in the fear of resisting it.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
16 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarianism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarianism. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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