dictatorial

adjective

dic·​ta·​to·​ri·​al ˌdik-tə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or befitting a dictator

dictatorial power

b

: ruled by a dictator

2

: oppressive to or arrogantly overbearing toward others

dictatorially

ˌdik-tə-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

dictatorialness noun

Synonyms

• absolute
• arbitrary
• autocratic
• autocratical
• czarist
• tsarist
• tzarist
• despotic
• monocratic
• tyrannical
• tyrannic
• tyrannous

Choose the Right Synonym for dictatorial

dictatorial, magisterial, dogmatic, doctrinaire, oracular mean imposing one's will or opinions on others.

dictatorial stresses autocratic, high-handed methods and a domineering manner.

exercised dictatorial control over the office

magisterial stresses assumption or use of prerogatives appropriate to a magistrate or schoolmaster in forcing acceptance of one's opinions.

the magisterial tone of his pronouncements

dogmatic implies being unduly and offensively positive in laying down principles and expressing opinions.

dogmatic about what is art and what is not

doctrinaire implies a disposition to follow abstract theories in framing laws or policies affecting people.

a doctrinaire approach to improving the economy

oracular implies the manner of one who delivers opinions in cryptic phrases or with pompous dogmatism.

a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion

Examples of dictatorial in a Sentence

He was given dictatorial powers.

a dictatorial leader with total control over people's lives

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to writing about Anglo anti-Mexican violence, Garza condemned the brutality of the dictatorial regime of Mexican President Porfirio Díaz in his newspapers El Comercio Mexicano (Mexican Business) and El Libre Pensador (Free Thinker). —TIME, 9 Apr. 2024

As Synanon's popularity increased, so did Dederich's authoritative and dictatorial behavior. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024

But Burnham grew increasingly dictatorial as well as, in a twist of geopolitical fate, socialist. Booker, which would later give its name to the Booker Prize in literature, still owned Wales at independence. —Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Every new restriction on Afghan women strengthens the Taliban’s dictatorial grip on the entire Afghan population and feeds extremism in a society already occupied by dozens of terrorist groups. —Lisa Curtis, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024

The ideological conflict between Xavier and Magneto has often been distilled down to one similar to that of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, with Xavier being a pacifist and Magneto being aggressive and dictatorial. —Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024

During a brief romantic hiatus, Sophie gathers with the women in her family to cook in the farmhouse kitchen, with neither the tiresome Gordon or the dictatorial Ruby in the frame. —Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024

This comic-authoritarian politics has some advantages over the older dictatorial style. —Seyward Darby, Longreads, 7 Mar. 2024

He was associated with controversial U.S. policies including its bombing of Cambodia and support and funding of dictatorial regimes and military juntas. —USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin dictātōrius "of a dictator" (derivative of dictātor dictator) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a