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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dictator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of authoritarian
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
This cruelty is echoed and magnified in Trump’s movement, which increasingly resembles an authoritarian cult more than a political party.
—Tom Debley, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
President Donald Trump’s critics often accuse him of harboring authoritarian ambitions.
—Daniel Treisman, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
But this one rush job, HB 1205, was especially dear to the governor’s authoritarian heart.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Adjective
Its vision for America reeks of elements of an authoritarian police state where basic civil liberties are not protected.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
This cruelty is echoed and magnified in Trump’s movement, which increasingly resembles an authoritarian cult more than a political party.
—Tom Debley, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
President Donald Trump’s critics often accuse him of harboring authoritarian ambitions.
—Daniel Treisman, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
But this one rush job, HB 1205, was especially dear to the governor’s authoritarian heart.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarian
Adjective
-
Carrie is described as a reimagining of the story of misfit high schooler Carrie White, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
2 June 2025
-
Randall is a rebellious new patient at a mental institution who does battle with Louise Fletcher’s domineering head nurse Mildred Ratched.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
There is a strict bag policy in place at the stadium, and all restrictions will be enforced.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
-
No new stores that sell certain pets will be allowed to open in Manatee County and existing pet sellers and breeders will face stricter regulations under new rules passed unanimously Tuesday by county leaders.—
Ryan Ballogg,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Either way, Columbia could more easily identify the protesters, much to the advantage of disciplinarians looking to move fast.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
In theory, Lee and Trump are well suited as a pair to wrangle the North Korean dictator.—
John Delury,
Foreign Affairs,
3 June 2025
-
Individual rights shield us from the initiation of physical force – whether by tax collectors, or dictators threatening us with missiles.—
Ben Bayer,
Oc Register,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Richard was known for being outspoken, if not arrogant, consistently rubbing his Tagi tribe the wrong way and offending some of them with his blatant display of nudity on the island.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
-
Multiple people described him to me as unpopular and arrogant.—
Amanda Chicago Lewis,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Of the treaty’s three American signers—John Adams, John Jay and Benjamin Franklin—Franklin was said to have taken the harshest line against the loyalists.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
-
Netflix released the trailer for the reality TV show on YouTube on Wednesday, which starts with a voice-over of a cheerleader talking about how the DCC will always be in each other’s lives before explaining the harsh reality of trying out to be a Cowboys cheerleader with all the talent.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 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
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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
-
The Russian tyrant has now cost his country hundreds of thousands of lives and huge portions of its military capability.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
-
Never mind that the Dodgers have been a rip-roaring success on the Golden Coast and that O’Malley was forced into a corner by a New York City tyrant named Robert Moses.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarian. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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