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
Kazakh-resistance framing positions it as memorial, but memorial to what an authoritarian nation permits to be named.
—
Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Since 2009, when the regime refused to seat a reformist candidate who had clearly won the presidency, public protests have been the only channel left open to the majority of Iranians who oppose their authoritarian government.
—Kay Armin Serjoie, Time, 1 Mar. 2026
An air campaign without at least the threat of a ground invasion, which the administration is ruling out, never results in a democratic rebirth in an authoritarian country.
—CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
What happened next is predictable to students of the dynamics of authoritarian rule.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
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Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Since 2009, when the regime refused to seat a reformist candidate who had clearly won the presidency, public protests have been the only channel left open to the majority of Iranians who oppose their authoritarian government.
—Kay Armin Serjoie, Time, 1 Mar. 2026
An air campaign without at least the threat of a ground invasion, which the administration is ruling out, never results in a democratic rebirth in an authoritarian country.
—CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
What happened next is predictable to students of the dynamics of authoritarian rule.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritarian. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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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