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
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of authoritarian
Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
In unashamed authoritarian fashion, the university barred journalists from the campus just before the police raid, and threatened their own student journalists with arrest.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Christopher Justin Einolf, The Conversation, 26 Sep. 2025
That is why censorship is the authoritarian's dream.
—Robert Birsel
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Adjective
The Winter Games were such a tough sell that the IOC increasingly relied on authoritarian regimes like China or Russia, as the cost of hosting the Olympics and public opposition have driven fewer and fewer countries from bidding for the Games.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
In unashamed authoritarian fashion, the university barred journalists from the campus just before the police raid, and threatened their own student journalists with arrest.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Not your grandma’s authoritarians Today’s authoritarian rulers realize that civil society has the potential to support democracy and pry loose their grip on power.
—Christopher Justin Einolf, The Conversation, 26 Sep. 2025
That is why censorship is the authoritarian's dream.
—Robert Birsel
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarian
Adjective
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Since determining whether someone is domineering is subjective and could vary based on different perspectives, that statement is unlikely to qualify as defamation.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
16 Jan. 2026
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Set in medieval England, Anne (Turner) is torn between her domineering live-in mother-in-law Morwen (Marcia Gay Harden) and a new love interest, Jago (Harington).—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Researchers examined containment, shielding, and redundancy measures to ensure compliance with strict safety expectations for civilian nuclear applications.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
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Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mitevska also refuses to sanctify Mother Teresa more than necessary, instead portraying her as a strict disciplinarian who believed in organizational practicality as much as in the inherent holiness of children.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
27 Aug. 2025
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Considering his managers at Leeds included disciplinarians such as Wilkinson and George Graham, this was probably for the best.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
That’s what dictators want to do.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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The dictator had set his mind on claiming all the sunken treasure off his country’s coast and would brook no competition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In the early years of his fame as a writer, Rushdie had something of a reputation for being prickly and arrogant, but Gibney’s portrait reveals a man mellowed by time and experience.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
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Spock is this brilliant, arrogant, aloof-to-the-point-of-obnoxiousness genius.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Before Getting Started When cleaning your oven, try to avoid using harsh oven cleaners or using the self-cleaning feature.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
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The origin of clemency is understood through the Federalist Papers as a need for mercy in instances when the criminal justice system was too harsh.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The September murder of the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was close to many in the administration, including Miller, plunged Trump’s already single-minded martinet into a maximalist frenzy.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
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And then there’s the U.S. Army officer who succeeds in apprehending Perfidia: Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, played in a graying military fade, with some fur on top and a martinet scowl, by Sean Penn.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Feingold saw gaps in the legislation that a would-be tyrant could easily exploit.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
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The selfish tyrant attaches himself only to those others who share his selfishness, who are eager to wear the mask of perpetual lying.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarian. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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