authoritarian

adjective

au·​thor·​i·​tar·​i·​an ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 

ə-, 

-ˌthär-

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

authoritarianism

ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

ə-, 

-ˌthär-

noun

Synonyms of authoritarian

• domineering
• arrogant
• autocratic
• authoritative
• despotic
• dictatorial
• tyrannical

Examples of authoritarian in a Sentence

grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world

an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp

Recent Examples on the Web

But the ongoing fracturing of American politics, and especially the capricious and authoritarian-leaning tendencies of the current administration, complicates everything. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026

Syria held its first public trial of an Assad-era official Sunday, with former army general Atef Najib facing charges for alleged crimes committed under the authoritarian regime. —Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

His authoritarian regime has survived a decades-long trade embargo … a missile crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war … and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba's longtime patron. —Mo Rocca, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026

Advertisement The orthodox and authoritarian left in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has, in many ways, sabotaged and delayed the renewal of the Latin American left. —Carlos Manuel Alvarez, Time, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

authority + -arian

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing authoritarian

• anti-authoritarian

Rhymes for authoritarian

• antiquarian
• libertarian
• millenarian
• nonsectarian
• proletarian
• sanitarian
• trinitarian
• unitarian
• vegetarian
• veterinarian
• agrarian
• aquarian

Kids Definition

authoritarian

adjective

au·​thor·​i·​tar·​i·​an ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 

ə-, 

-ˌthȯr-

1

: expecting strict obedience to one's authority

had authoritarian parents

2

: based on the principle that the leaders and not the people have the final authority

an authoritarian state

authoritarian noun

authoritarianism

-ē-ə-ˌniz-əm 

noun