dystopian
adjective
dys·to·pi·an
(ˌ)dis-ˈtō-pē-ən 
variants
or less commonly dystopic
: of, relating to, or being an imagined world or society in which people lead dehumanized, fearful lives : relating to or characteristic of a dystopia
a dystopian novel
A twisted romantic haunted by dystopian visions, Gibson borrows the language of science fiction and crafts doomed love stories with high-tech trappings.—
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonaghDystopian visions are in a sense mythopoeic: depicting a creation myth in a future world of darkness and silence.—Sarah Lefanu
Sarah LefanuBiotechnology is a force for good, but without adherence to the ideal of universal human equality, it opens the door to the soft tyranny of Gattaca and, ultimately the dystopian nightmare of Brave New World.—Wesley J. Smith
Wesley J. SmithLike many advances in science and technology, the dystopian implications of data mining have been described best by science-fiction writers.—John Markoff
John Markoff… Orwellian has become a word itself: an adjective denoting a dystopic world where language is cut adrift from meaning.—Harvey A. Daniels
Harvey A. DanielsLetter by letter, we read of a society that seems to move from one dystopic nightmare to another …—Simon Winchester
Simon WinchesterExamples of dystopian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In other hands, the stage would be set for a Black Mirror-like dystopian chiller, but Kore-eda, unsurprisingly, takes his premise into less obvious, more nuanced emotional terrain.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The three will discuss taking on these roles and what both shows’ dystopian satire means to them in this current cultural moment.
—Zoë Haylock, Vulture, 13 May 2026
In one, Pratt is portrayed as Batman saving a dystopian Los Angeles from Bass, portrayed as a villainous Joker.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 13 May 2026
In a dystopian world where citizens wear white overalls and are gripped by fear of foxes, struggling couple Jude and Sam are visited by young foxfinder, William, sent by the state to inspect their farm.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dystopian
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Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The three will discuss taking on these roles and what both shows’ dystopian satire means to them in this current cultural moment.
—Zoë Haylock, Vulture, 13 May 2026
In one, Pratt is portrayed as Batman saving a dystopian Los Angeles from Bass, portrayed as a villainous Joker.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 13 May 2026
In a dystopian world where citizens wear white overalls and are gripped by fear of foxes, struggling couple Jude and Sam are visited by young foxfinder, William, sent by the state to inspect their farm.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dystopian
Cite this Entry
“Dystopian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dystopian. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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