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
Synonyms of authoritarian
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
Like, literally like, don't do the Project 2025, don't have authoritarian strategy, don't go after your political opponents, don't make this new presidency about revenge.
—
ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
While authoritarian parents, for example, are more strict, inflexible, and controlling, lighthouse parents encourage independence by trusting their children to follow the rules and make good decisions.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 21 Dec. 2025
In the case of Tanzania, there has been a gradual unwinding of key sources of longevity in favor of more blatant and brutal tools of authoritarian rule.
—Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Sacco knows better than most that political chauvinists of all kinds can point to past moments of injury and humiliation to justify any current cruelty or authoritarian project—an especially powerful appeal when those historical injustices are real.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
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ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
While authoritarian parents, for example, are more strict, inflexible, and controlling, lighthouse parents encourage independence by trusting their children to follow the rules and make good decisions.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 21 Dec. 2025
In the case of Tanzania, there has been a gradual unwinding of key sources of longevity in favor of more blatant and brutal tools of authoritarian rule.
—Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Sacco knows better than most that political chauvinists of all kinds can point to past moments of injury and humiliation to justify any current cruelty or authoritarian project—an especially powerful appeal when those historical injustices are real.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritarian. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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