theocratic

adjective

theo·​crat·​ic ˌthē-ə-ˈkra-tik How to pronounce theocratic (audio)
variants or less commonly theocratical
: of, relating to, or being a theocracy
theocratically adverb

Examples of theocratic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These demonstrations posed the most significant threat to Iran’s government since 1979, fueling speculation that today’s theocratic regime could ultimately go the way of yesterday’s monarchy. Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2023 Its founder was not a member of Congress but Paul Weyrich, a hard-right nutter with theocratic leanings with a fair claim to being the Johnny Appleseed of the New Right, having also co-founded the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority, and the American Legislative Exchange Council. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 27 Mar. 2023 Trump’s White House also argued that the Iran nuclear pact did not crack down on the theocratic state’s terrorism and restrict its missile program. Fox News, 5 Mar. 2023 Its hero—the commander of the title—is a real-life figure too: Qasem Soleimani, a major general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a military force under the command of Iran’s theocratic leadership. Kamiab Ghorbanpour, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2023 The global soccer tournament is being hosted by Qatar, a theocratic petrostate with a terrible track record on human rights. The Week Staff, The Week, 27 Nov. 2022 At one time, opponents of clerical rule looked hopefully to figures such as Mohammad Khatami, who served as president from 1997 to 2005, and Mousavi in 2009, but these leaders refused to make a full break with the theocratic system. Lucan Ahmad Way, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023 But this country was founded with one nation, which was born with slavery and with a very theocratic, illiberal bent, and another that was committed to a more commercial, innovative, secular culture. How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 11 May 2023 In all, the budget reserved about four billion dollars for coalition funds, which favor theocratic priorities—about ten per cent of the entire budget for 2023 and, coincidentally, roughly what Israel gets yearly from the U.S. in aid. Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker, 17 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'theocratic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of theocratic was in 1690

Dictionary Entries Near theocratic

Cite this Entry

“Theocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theocratic. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

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