Synonyms of authoritarianism

authoritarianism

noun

as in tyranny

a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power

a critical period that saw a number of third-world countries abandon authoritarianism for democracy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tyranny
• dictatorship
• fascism
• autocracy
• Communism
• totalitarianism
• despotism
• absolutism
• monarchy
• autarchy
• totalism
• Caesarism
• oppression
• czarism
• Nazism
• monarchism
• domination
• monocracy
• Big Brother
• Big Brotherism

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• democracy
• freedom
• self-government
• self-rule
• self-governance
• autonomy
• sovereignty
• self-determination

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of authoritarianism

That doesn't sound like a man who embraces authoritarianism to me. — Nicole Russell, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Look the steady coarsening of American civic and political culture and the ways in which the once-outrageous—the bilious, hateful rhetoric and the creeping authoritarianism—have become almost ordinary. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Uganda has been a source of stability in a volatile region, but intensifying authoritarianism warrants a review of the United States’ relationship with one of its most important security and counterterrorism partners in East Africa. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 13 July 2026

In the wake of rising instances of authoritarianism which scramble historical categories and precedents, does such a dilution matter? — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026

Critics have accused him of authoritarianism and failing to hold long-due elections. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 July 2026

The Democratic Socialists of America describes it as a system that prioritizes the needs of ordinary people while rejecting authoritarianism. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

This revival finds new power in the intimate story of a family learning to love again set against one of the most consequential moments of the twentieth century, as the Nazi regime rises to power and authoritarianism encroaches on daily life. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 June 2026

Rent it on most major platforms Forbidden to enter the stadium, several Iranian women sneak in dressed as men to watch a World Cup qualifying match in the master director Jafar Panahi’s movie about everyday defiance under authoritarianism. — Carlos Aguilar, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026