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
And, where dictators of the past tried to impose a national ideology, today’s autocrats focus on projecting a sense of competence.
—
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
If not, aggressive autocrats around the world could learn that violating the sovereignty of weaker neighbors pays off.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
If American democracy is to prevail, pro-democracy forces must follow the handbook that has enabled oppositions to stop would-be autocrats in other countries.
—Laura Gamboa, Foreign Affairs, 31 Mar. 2025
Maybe a less obvious point is that some of these other aspiring autocrats really have to care about audiences outside their own country.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocrat
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
If not, aggressive autocrats around the world could learn that violating the sovereignty of weaker neighbors pays off.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
If American democracy is to prevail, pro-democracy forces must follow the handbook that has enabled oppositions to stop would-be autocrats in other countries.
—Laura Gamboa, Foreign Affairs, 31 Mar. 2025
Maybe a less obvious point is that some of these other aspiring autocrats really have to care about audiences outside their own country.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocrat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocrat
Noun
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His interest in sports analytics comes from his math teacher father, who handed out rulers to Trick-or-Treaters each year.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2025
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The brand new full-length arrives as a success across a number of rankings, launching atop several Billboard tallies – and this latest champion is different from his previous rulers.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The British monarch is expected to skip the late pontiff's funeral service at St Peter's Basilica church in the Vatican on April 26, keeping in line with royal traditions, Kensington Palace confirmed to Vanity Fair and Us Weekly.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Yet, in truth, Pope Francis simply did what every other pope (or monarch, world leader, or even CEO) would do: surrounded himself with like-minded people.—
Made by History,
Time,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocrat. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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