totalitarianism
noun
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Definition of totalitarianism
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Synonyms for totalitarianism
Synonyms
absolutism, autarchy, authoritarianism, autocracy, Caesarism, czarism (also tsarism), despotism, dictatorship, totalism, tyranny
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Examples of totalitarianism in a Sentence
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Hayek thought that the governments of the early 20th century, in responding to the concerns of the masses, had over-centralised economic decision-making, a road that led eventually to totalitarianism. — The Economist, "How compatible are democracy and capitalism?," 13 June 2019 America saved the world from totalitarianism twice in the last century. — James Freeman, WSJ, "Columbus, Churchill and Melania," 8 Oct. 2018 That’s clear in China, which has turned regulation of the internet to the purposes of a simultaneously traditional and innovative 21st-century totalitarianism. — Crispin Sartwell, WSJ, "What’s Worse Than Facebook?," 6 Jan. 2019 For conservatives, fascism is totalitarianism masquerading as the nanny state. — Sean Illing, Vox, "A Yale philosopher on fascism, truth, and Donald Trump.," 15 Dec. 2018 China is making a wrong turn toward totalitarianism under its new maximum leader, but the U.S. and the West should have confidence in freedom to prevail in the long run. — Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, "What to Do About Huawei?," 11 Dec. 2018 There was idealism in the protests but also cynicism and a touch of totalitarianism. — Ted Van Dyk, WSJ, "Democrats Haven’t Turned Back From 1968," 18 Oct. 2018 This totalitarianism isn’t solely a problem for human rights. — Claudia Rosett, WSJ, "Only Freedom Can Disarm Kim," 31 May 2018 Casual references to twentieth century totalitarianism have been cropping up lately like clover in the lawn. — Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, "Losing the Twentieth Century," 8 Feb. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'totalitarianism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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