totalitarianism

noun

to·​tal·​i·​tar·​i·​an·​ism (ˌ)tō-ˌta-lə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

1

: centralized control by an autocratic authority

2

: the political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority

Synonyms

• absolutism
• autarchy
• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• Caesarism
• czarism
• tsarism
• tzarism
• despotism
• dictatorship
• totalism
• tyranny

Examples of totalitarianism in a Sentence

in times of crisis, when a nation's people are frightened, there are often calls for totalitarianism

Recent Examples on the Web

Mao had also fully grasped the natural suitability of photographic and filmic media for the broadcasting and cognitive technologies of totalitarianism. —Nan Z. Da june 10, Literary Hub, 10 June 2025

Hannah Arendt and the Fight for the Truth (Public Books) by John Plotz Hannah Arendt famously wrote about totalitarianism. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 May 2025

Live Not By Lies, a new documentary series released by Angel Studios, is warning against contemporary western culture’s love for comfort, safety, and security as a disguise for totalitarianism’s political entrance. —Heather Hamilton, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2025

Communism and other forms of totalitarianism are often said to be antihuman. —Rich Lowry, National Review, 19 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for totalitarianism

• antiquarianism
• congregationalism
• constitutionalism
• cosmopolitanism
• electromagnetism
• environmentalism
• epicureanism
• evangelicalism
• experimentalism
• hyperparathyroidism
• hypoparathyroidism
• individualism