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

According to the Migration Policy Institute, some 770,000 Venezuelan immigrants live in the United States -- the vast majority arriving after fleeing Maduro's authoritarian regime and the ongoing economic crisis there. —Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2025

As confidence in that promise erodes, wealthy, authoritarian states step forward as an alternative center of gravity—offering not just different politics of climate leadership but potentially the money, technology, and governance models to implement it. —William Burke-White, Time, 20 Nov. 2025

Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West, a convenient scapegoat for a fearmongering authoritarian regime. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025

The lively musical number is pure show business with an underlying truth to it, just one of many things throughout this film that play in a real world slowly turning authoritarian. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

authority + -arian

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing authoritarian

• anti-authoritarian

Rhymes for authoritarian

• communitarian
• disciplinarian
• egalitarian
• equalitarian
• humanitarian
• majoritarian
• octogenarian
• parliamentarian
• radiolarian
• totalitarian
• utilitarian
• agrarian

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