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
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
Moments of romantic play give way to flashes of authoritarian force, broken up by thumping EDM.
—
David Hochman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
In The Long Walk, set in a dystopian 1970s-era America ruled by an authoritarian regime, 50 teens are selected to participate in the eponymous annual event, where they are forced to continuously walk or else be executed.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
The walk is presided over by its creator, a mysterious authoritarian figure known as the Major (Mark Hamill) who extolls the sadistic contest as a boon for the spirits of the impoverished American people.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Now, the same institutions once intimidated by authoritarian power have declared that a former commander-in-chief conspired to revoke the 2022 election, assassinate rivals, and eventually unleash street chaos to hold on to power.
—Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
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David Hochman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
In The Long Walk, set in a dystopian 1970s-era America ruled by an authoritarian regime, 50 teens are selected to participate in the eponymous annual event, where they are forced to continuously walk or else be executed.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
The walk is presided over by its creator, a mysterious authoritarian figure known as the Major (Mark Hamill) who extolls the sadistic contest as a boon for the spirits of the impoverished American people.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Now, the same institutions once intimidated by authoritarian power have declared that a former commander-in-chief conspired to revoke the 2022 election, assassinate rivals, and eventually unleash street chaos to hold on to power.
—Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 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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