Sta·lin·ism
ˈstä-lə-ˌni-zəm 
ˈsta-
: the political, economic, and social principles and policies associated with Joseph Stalin
especially
: the theory and practice of communism developed by Stalin from Marxism-Leninism and marked especially by rigid authoritarianism, widespread use of terror, and often emphasis on Russian nationalism
Sta·lin·oid
ˈstä-lə-ˌnȯid
ˈsta-
: favorable to or influenced by Stalinism
Stalinoid Marxism
Stalinoid propaganda
Examples of Stalinism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
In these respects, apart from the harlequin excesses of his Stalinism, Cowley is terrifically sound.
—Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Medieval threat to democracy The rhetoric of absolving Stalinism goes hand in hand with popularizing the state’s version of the Russian Middle Ages through public media channels.
—Dina Khapaeva, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2025
This critique involved not just intellectuals on the left, but also famous American realists who played a key part in rallying U.S. liberal opinion to resist Nazism and Stalinism.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
In English class, some students might read Animal Farm as an allegory for Stalinism, while others see it as a story about talking animals.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2024
Again, Breaking With Trump Caroline Ellison, Star Witness in FTX Case, Should Receive Lenient Sentence, Prosecutors Signal
Trumpism, Stalinism and the Tariff Debate
An 8-Year-Old Ohio Girl Takes a Solo Drive to Target in Family’s SUV
Trump and Other Presidents Embrace Golf.
—New York Times, 17 Sep. 2024
Orwell would spend the rest of his life trying to clarify that in his time the left meant both idealists committed to human rights, equality, and justice and supporters of a Stalinism that was the antithesis of all those things.
—Rebecca Solnit
february 23, Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2024
And sometimes, this language which is used by the authorities could be compared with the language of Stalinism, the situation of the late 1940s and early 1950s, in terms of rhetoric, the absurdity of this rhetoric, and the absurdity of repressions.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 11 Jan. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The title comes from a miniature story by the Soviet writer Daniil Kharms, who wrote absurdist literature under Stalinism and suffered as a result.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
In these respects, apart from the harlequin excesses of his Stalinism, Cowley is terrifically sound.
—Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Medieval threat to democracy The rhetoric of absolving Stalinism goes hand in hand with popularizing the state’s version of the Russian Middle Ages through public media channels.
—Dina Khapaeva, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2025
This critique involved not just intellectuals on the left, but also famous American realists who played a key part in rallying U.S. liberal opinion to resist Nazism and Stalinism.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
In English class, some students might read Animal Farm as an allegory for Stalinism, while others see it as a story about talking animals.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2024
Again, Breaking With Trump Caroline Ellison, Star Witness in FTX Case, Should Receive Lenient Sentence, Prosecutors Signal
Trumpism, Stalinism and the Tariff Debate
An 8-Year-Old Ohio Girl Takes a Solo Drive to Target in Family’s SUV
Trump and Other Presidents Embrace Golf.
—New York Times, 17 Sep. 2024
Orwell would spend the rest of his life trying to clarify that in his time the left meant both idealists committed to human rights, equality, and justice and supporters of a Stalinism that was the antithesis of all those things.
—Rebecca Solnit
february 23, Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2024
And sometimes, this language which is used by the authorities could be compared with the language of Stalinism, the situation of the late 1940s and early 1950s, in terms of rhetoric, the absurdity of this rhetoric, and the absurdity of repressions.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 11 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Stalinism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Stalinism. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
