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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.
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
This was the fantasy in 1953, when the CIA and the British intelligence overthrew Mohammad Mossadegh, Iran’s prime minister who had nationalized the country’s oil, and delivered Iran to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s autocratic rule.
—
Narges Bajoghli, Time, 19 June 2025
Allowing China and Russia entry would strengthen other autocratic regimes, reducing the deterrent influence of democratic alliances.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Most Third World states, for example, that were born as democracies lapsed into dictatorships or became autocratic shortly after independence.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
This is also a real turn in terms of the completely autocratic way in which Department of Homeland Security staff responded to the incident.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
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Narges Bajoghli, Time, 19 June 2025
Allowing China and Russia entry would strengthen other autocratic regimes, reducing the deterrent influence of democratic alliances.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Most Third World states, for example, that were born as democracies lapsed into dictatorships or became autocratic shortly after independence.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
This is also a real turn in terms of the completely autocratic way in which Department of Homeland Security staff responded to the incident.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 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 1 Jul. 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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