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
After Abdulla Yameen became president of the Maldives in 2013, India treated him as an important ally, prioritizing military and surveillance cooperation with the government in Malé even as Yameen became more authoritarian.
—
Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
An authoritarian government that sponsors ruthless reality TV shows in which desperate individuals compete for cash to pay their basic medical bills?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
At the time, some human rights experts voiced concerns that his presidency risked backsliding on the democratic gains made since Suharto’s authoritarian regime.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Stephen King’s 1982 novel, The Running Man, imagined an authoritarian America in 2025, ruled over by a giant corporation that controls the flow of information while keeping the underclass in its place.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
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Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
An authoritarian government that sponsors ruthless reality TV shows in which desperate individuals compete for cash to pay their basic medical bills?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
At the time, some human rights experts voiced concerns that his presidency risked backsliding on the democratic gains made since Suharto’s authoritarian regime.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Stephen King’s 1982 novel, The Running Man, imagined an authoritarian America in 2025, ruled over by a giant corporation that controls the flow of information while keeping the underclass in its place.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 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 18 Nov. 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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