as in ruler
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
European autocrats once commonly believed that they had received the right to rule directly from God
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Recent Examples of autocrat
The idea that speech or thought contrary to the government line could trigger punishment is the dream of autocrats.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
But the latest programming move by Disney should not just be seen as cowardly submission to an autocrat’s abuse of authority.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
And as is true in all fights against cowardly, bullying, thin-skinned autocrats, our weakness was provocative.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
To an aspiring autocrat, power exists so that it can be abused.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocrat
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
But the latest programming move by Disney should not just be seen as cowardly submission to an autocrat’s abuse of authority.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
And as is true in all fights against cowardly, bullying, thin-skinned autocrats, our weakness was provocative.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
To an aspiring autocrat, power exists so that it can be abused.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocrat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocrat
Noun
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Over in India, French strategists succeeded in forging a pivotal new anti-British alliance with Haidar Ali, the Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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More recently, Waleed Al-Ibrahim was temporarily detained under orders of current de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman as part of a 2018 corruption probe.—
Deena Sabry,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Sandringham has been the private home of five generations of British monarchs for over 150 years.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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The negotiations to get to this stage will have been challenging but the monarch had no option but to engage damage control mode.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocrat. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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