as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
in times of crisis, when a nation's people are frightened, there are often calls for totalitarianism
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Recent Examples of totalitarianism
Hannah Arendt and the Fight for the Truth (Public Books)
by John Plotz
Hannah Arendt famously wrote about totalitarianism.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 May 2025
Communism and other forms of totalitarianism are often said to be antihuman.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 19 May 2025
George Orwell himself has gone in and out of favor over the revisionist years, but the British author’s searing insights into empire and power and totalitarianism have never lost relevance.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Live Not By Lies, a new documentary series released by Angel Studios, is warning against contemporary western culture’s love for comfort, safety, and security as a disguise for totalitarianism’s political entrance.
—Heather Hamilton, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totalitarianism
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 May 2025
Communism and other forms of totalitarianism are often said to be antihuman.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 19 May 2025
George Orwell himself has gone in and out of favor over the revisionist years, but the British author’s searing insights into empire and power and totalitarianism have never lost relevance.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Live Not By Lies, a new documentary series released by Angel Studios, is warning against contemporary western culture’s love for comfort, safety, and security as a disguise for totalitarianism’s political entrance.
—Heather Hamilton, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totalitarianism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totalitarianism
Noun
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Christian is annoyed by Max’s temporary tyranny and overall seems … normal.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
-
When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.—
Michael Bloomberg,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Generally, Antifa describes those in opposition to fascism and far-right neo-Nazi ideologies, tracing their roots to 20th-century resistance movements in Europe.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
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At the same time, such a transition as implied by the current crisis necessitates and implies a coming organizational shift in society, but that could either result in a hideous fascism or in something genuinely utopian.—
Ed Simon
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The movie, set largely in 1977 during the Brazilian military dictatorship, ends on a strange and sad note.—
Morgan Baila,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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Other Latin American countries that had suffered under military dictatorships vigorously prosecuted the perpetrators of human rights abuses, but Brazil did not follow suit.—
Omar G. Encarnación,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For Moura, the echoes of Brazil’s dictatorship and the dangers of authoritarianism repeating itself, fed directly into The Secret Agent.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
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Andor connected with critics and audiences in part because its revolutionaries make cogent arguments over and over about the insanity of authoritarianism.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totalitarianism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totalitarianism. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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