theocratic

adjective theo·crat·ic \ ˌthē-ə-ˈkra-tik \

variants: or less commonly theocratical play \ˌthē-ə-ˈkra-ti-kəl\

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Definition of theocratic

: of, relating to, or being a theocracy

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theocratically

play \ˌthē-ə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of theocratic from the Web

Those tough economic conditions sparked nationwide protests in December and January, which were egged on by Trump and others who want to see Iran’s theocratic government collapse.

— Washington Post, "Analysis: Crumbling of nuclear deal boosts Iran hard-liners," 9 May 2018
Iran’s theocratic regime may be facing even greater economic challenges than previously reported—perhaps even including a shortage of contemporary metaphors.

— james freeman, WSJ, "Tom and Jerry and Khamenei," 24 May 2018
Iran hawks argue that the idea of rival political camps is an illusion and that Rouhani was always beholden to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the theocratic cabal surrounding him.

— ishaan tharoor, Washington Post, "American and Iranian hard-liners await the end of the nuclear deal," 4 May 2018
The Hulu series, based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, takes place in a patriarchal, theocratic dystopia that can be downright unnerving to watch.

— lauren rearick, Teen Vogue, "How "The Handmaid's Tale" Can Help Anxiety," 2 May 2018
Is Gilead a right-wing socialist theocratic patriarchy?

— rena gross, Billboard, "'The Handmaid's Tale': Season 2, Episode 3 Recap – 9 Heavy Moments From 'Baggage'," 2 May 2018
Dexter Filkins has a superb tour d’horizon of how this theocratic Arab tyrant seized power over the last few years (using torture, naturally).

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Isn’t Merely Tolerating Torture — He’s Celebrating It," 6 Apr. 2018
His hostility to Iran’s theocratic regime is understandable, but laced with exaggeration.

— The Economist, "The Trump-whisperer," 15 Mar. 2018
The unrest, which was still roiling as Newsweek went to press, marked the third time in three decades that Iranians have demonstrated en masse against the theocratic regime in Tehran.

— bill powell, Newsweek, "Despite Trump Tweet Storm, Mattis and McMaster Calling Shots in Iran Crisis," 9 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'theocratic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.