1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

authoritarian 1 of 2

adjective

ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən How to pronounce authoritarian (audio)
Definition of authoritariannext
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

authoritarian

2 of 2

noun

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
Adjective
Amazon Prime’s Reacher is an anti-authoritarian’s authoritarian fantasy. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026 Yet, punishing such authoritarian lawbreakers for their domestic and international crimes is essential, in my view. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
Orbán, a far-right authoritarian known for his dismantling of democratic checks and balances and stringent media control, took a mixed approach to climate action throughout his years in power, with his rhetoric often out of line with his actions. — Simmone Shah, Time, 13 Apr. 2026 Khomeini was a leader of opposition to the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, an authoritarian who wanted to modernize the country. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarian
  1. domineering
  2. strict
  3. disciplinarian
  4. dictator
  5. arrogant
  6. harsh
  7. martinet
  8. tyrant
Adjective
  • Sources said Gunning plays Annie, a quietly dutiful wife who has sacrificed her ambitions to raise four sons under her domineering husband, Duncan.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Fern proves himself as a true actor’s director, offering plum roles to Paulson, Watts and two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest as their chaotic and domineering mother.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of domineering
Adjective
  • Despite the massive guest list, Strahan shared on Good Morning America on July 6 that the ceremony still felt intimate because of the couple’s strict no-phones policy.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Martinessi’s sophomore feature is set in 1959, where the charismatic titular performer returns to Buenos Aires at the height of a strict military regime.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of strict
Noun
  • During his time with the Yankees, Mendoza was known as a disciplinarian behind the scenes, but the team loved and respected his hard coaching.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • You are asked to be teachers, counselors, social workers, disciplinarians, mentors, advocates, crisis managers and emotional anchors for children navigating an increasingly complicated world.
    — Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Definition of disciplinarian
Noun
  • Well, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and I often argue, jokingly, about which of us is the bigger dictator.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Ovechkin, who turns 41 on Thursday — the same day the Capitals open training camp — has long been a public supporter of Putin, the de facto dictator whose authoritarian regime has overseen a full-scale war with neighboring Ukraine since 2022.
    — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of dictator
Adjective
  • Everybody on our side understands that impeachment is a critical tool in the toolbox for constitutional self-defense against a president acting like a king, an imperious, lawless, arrogant king.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Most obviously, front and center, and in endlessly intrusive close-up, there’s Pattinson — who also serves as producer — playing the arrogant, fame-addicted, megalomaniac Hansen.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • The video, and Ovechkin’s subsequent statements, have sparked harsh criticism in Europe, the United States and Canada, which is part of the NHL.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond biological and nuclear threats, AI companies face harsh organizational incentives to develop AI even faster and — experts say — more recklessly.
    — Jared Perlo, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of harsh
Noun
  • His chief antagonist is his caustic first wife, Queen Marguerite (Joy DeMichelle), who operates as a kind of a martinet death doula.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of martinet
Noun
  • Plato warned that an unhealthy democracy can easily fall prey to a tyrant.
    — Kenneth Michael White, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Some of the rumors, and a few of the reports at the time, paint Khrzhanovsky as a tyrant who went mad with power, like Colonel Kurtz in Heart of Darkness (or maybe Francis Ford Coppola making Apocalypse Now).
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of tyrant

Browse Nearby Words

authoring
authoritarian
authoritarianism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarian. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tactile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All