1
as in arbitrary
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a dictatorial leader with total control over people's lives
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
no surprise that the dictatorial manager is highly unpopular among employees
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrogant
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
even the teachers chafed under the dictatorial rule of the principal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dictatorial
Making a dictatorial decision could come back to haunt you as Mars and Uranus clash.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 15 June 2025
The demonstration was one of thousands held across the United States to protest what many saw as the president’s attempt to acquire dictatorial powers.
—David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
History has shown time after time that once one acquires dictatorial powers, those in other government offices become superfluous.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
They shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorial
Usa Today, USA Today, 15 June 2025
The demonstration was one of thousands held across the United States to protest what many saw as the president’s attempt to acquire dictatorial powers.
—David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
History has shown time after time that once one acquires dictatorial powers, those in other government offices become superfluous.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
They shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictatorial
Adjective
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The Florida court contrived a weird and arbitrary compromise, granting new sentencing hearings only to death row prisoners whose sentences were considered final after 2002, when the U.S. court issued a decision that was a precursor to Hurst’s.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 July 2025
-
Ultimately, Bae acknowledges, these classifications are somewhat arbitrary.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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North Korea is under sanctions from the United States — as well as the United Nations and several other countries — largely in response to the isolated authoritarian state's weapons programs.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
25 July 2025
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While Western democracies debate environmental reviews and grid reliability, authoritarian systems can rapidly direct energy flows to computing infrastructure.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
25 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
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Christopher McDonald plays Happy’s comically villainous, arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, maestro of the finger guns.—
Skyler Trepel,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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In many areas along and east of the Mississippi River, heat index values could soar to between 110 and 115 degrees — the kind of oppressive heat that can quickly turn dangerous without proper precautions.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
-
Generally, when dew point values climb into the 70s, the heat becomes a nuisance and feels oppressive.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
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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
-
Power Without Reciprocity and Organizational Collapse Rome transitioned from a participatory republic to an autocratic empire.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
As the citizens of the state struggle to seize power back from an autocratic government, the story centers on Jamil, a war zone courier/smuggler, and Zora, a young leader in the Mulholland Resistance, who attempt to escape Occupied Los Angeles, a city under martial law.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Access to justice too (something often underrated), where you can’t be killed or robbed with impunity, and where you won’t be arbitrarily deprived of your liberty or your freedom of speech by a despotic government.—
Simon Boas
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
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Napoleon, the pig who takes despotic control of the farm following the revolution — voiced with haughty gusto by Seth Rogen — bears an uncanny resemblance to the current occupant of the White House.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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Since his memorable performance on the Netflix sci-fi show, Quinn has starred alongside Lupita Nyong’o in A Quiet Place: Day One and played a tyrannical emperor in Gladiator II.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Such control isn’t intrinsically tyrannical or oppressive.—
Michael W. Clune,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictatorial. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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