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Autos in Greek means "same" or "self", so in an autocratic government all the power is held by the leader him- or herself. Autocratic governments are often called dictatorships, or sometimes autocracies. In everyday life, a teacher, a parent, or a football coach can all behave like autocrats as well.
Synonyms of autocratic
Examples of autocratic in a Sentence
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
Recent Examples on the Web
Venezuela has been ruled by an autocratic regime for decades and is currently led by President Nicolas Maduro.
—
CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
As such, even if Guinea-Bissau was becoming increasingly autocratic already, the latest takeover is likely a cure worse than the disease.
—John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
This strain is heightened by the fact that three of the last four climate summits were hosted by autocratic regimes aligned with fossil interests.
—Paul Polman, Time, 25 Nov. 2025
By failing to challenge India’s support for an autocratic regime, the United States inadvertently opened the door for China.
—Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
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CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
As such, even if Guinea-Bissau was becoming increasingly autocratic already, the latest takeover is likely a cure worse than the disease.
—John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
This strain is heightened by the fact that three of the last four climate summits were hosted by autocratic regimes aligned with fossil interests.
—Paul Polman, Time, 25 Nov. 2025
By failing to challenge India’s support for an autocratic regime, the United States inadvertently opened the door for China.
—Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocratic. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
autocratic
adjective
au·to·crat·ic
ˌȯt-ə-ˈkrat-ik 
: of, relating to, or resembling autocracy or an autocrat
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