1
as in domineering
fond of ordering people around
grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in disciplinarian
Related Words
2
as in dictator
Related Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of authoritarian
Ari Shaw, Foreign Affairs, 17 July 2025
As teenagers, both crossed North Korea’s border into China, reuniting with family members who had fled the authoritarian regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
—Yoonjung Seo, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Their robust negations appeared to put both them and their American hosts on the right side of history, compared with writers in the unfree world of authoritarian regimes, who seemed to have been permanently tainted by lies, equivocations, and evasions.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Washington knew a truly free America did not want authoritarian rule.
—Mike Vogel, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Noun
The problem is not just that weakening a country’s democratic institutions enables the government to pass such laws; an anti-LGBTQ campaign can also help a would-be authoritarian gain and wield power.
—Ari Shaw, Foreign Affairs, 17 July 2025
As teenagers, both crossed North Korea’s border into China, reuniting with family members who had fled the authoritarian regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
—Yoonjung Seo, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Their robust negations appeared to put both them and their American hosts on the right side of history, compared with writers in the unfree world of authoritarian regimes, who seemed to have been permanently tainted by lies, equivocations, and evasions.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Washington knew a truly free America did not want authoritarian rule.
—Mike Vogel, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarian
Adjective
-
Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
-
My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
For example, in sales, if a customer wants a certain number of licenses but has a strict budget, an agent can help figure out the best deal by looking at things like license count, budget limits and different contract lengths (like one-, two- or three-year terms).—
Ian Gotts,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
The immediate problem, however, is whether Barca will be able to even play Rashford given their long-running issues registering players within La Liga’s strict salary limits.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
By several accounts, Xi was a ferocious disciplinarian.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
He was variously depicted as both a strict disciplinarian and also an emotionally intelligent father figure to the players.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
The Boys mothership show is heading towards its fifth and final season, premiering next year, and so far, no one seems powerful enough to take down the dictator supe.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
-
In 2003: Qusay and Uday Hussein, sons of Iraqi dictator Sadam Hussein, were killed by U.S. Special Forces and infantrymen from 101st Airborne after a three-hour firefight in the city of Mosul, Iraq.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to Sandler, the 2025 film also sees the return of several familiar faces, including Julie Bowen as Happy’s love interest, Virginia Venit; Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, Happy’s arrogant nemesis; and Ben Stiller as Hal L., the orderly from Happy’s grandmother’s nursing home.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Christopher McDonald plays Happy’s comically villainous, arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, maestro of the finger guns.—
Skyler Trepel,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Late-night talk shows across the board are facing the harsh reality that declines in ad revenue can’t make up for burgeoning production costs.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
But Muir’s co-moderator, Linsey Davis, was a different case: Davis wore a mannish, gray suit jacket and struck a pose of martinet — almost schoolmarmish — solemnity.—
Armond White,
National Review,
20 Sep. 2024
-
There’s Cece’s father, long vanished; Ronnie, a predator; Marcel, a martinet; Joel, a manipulator; and a random catcaller in the street, whom Cece sends scurrying away by turning her acting skills to practical use.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
12 June 2024
Noun
-
Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
-
Our tyrant locks up immigrants, comptrollers too, And sows chaos no matter the cost, so, what’s a public theater to do, To ensure that our democracy is not lost?—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarian. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share