as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
the Magna Carta is historically important because it signified the British rejection of autocracy and constituted the first formal restraining of the power of the monarch
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of autocracy
The antidote to Trump’s American breed of autocracy is understanding the severity of the threat at hand.
—
Stacey Abrams, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Our depressing slide into sclerotic autocracy continues.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Elsewhere, particularly in autocracies, the data is simply too unreliable to use.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Even as a large Muslim autocracy in the Middle East weathering the boom and bust of the oil market, Iran wasn’t unique.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocracy
Stacey Abrams, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Our depressing slide into sclerotic autocracy continues.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Elsewhere, particularly in autocracies, the data is simply too unreliable to use.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Even as a large Muslim autocracy in the Middle East weathering the boom and bust of the oil market, Iran wasn’t unique.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocracy
Noun
-
As previously announced, Andrew Garfield stars as the legendary leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
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Andrew Garfield is leading the feature that is now in production, portraying the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Made as Brazil’s dictatorship was losing its grip, these films confronted repression indirectly, turning sensuality into an act of defiance.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
12 Oct. 2025
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As the series continues, the twins find their parents, grow up, fall in love and fight dictatorship.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The surest defense against soft fascism is presence—to show up, visibly, and refuse the framing.—
Alexis Coe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
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Wyeth had taken several photos of a woman wearing three layers of denim vests, all filled with pins and slogans against fascism, against patriarchy, against the pipeline, against the former rapist in chief, against starving children, against book bans, against transphobes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In recent months, as despotism intensified an increasing number of writers, scholars, and thinkers were declared foreign agents, and their books were taken off the shelves.—
Nina Khrushcheva,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Bashar Assad regime’s collapse inspired a wave of optimism about despotism turning into democracy.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
What about the neuroscience of authoritarianism?—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Protesters expressed concerns about authoritarianism, the future of the country and Project 2025.—
Erin Glynn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocracy. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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