variants
also autocratical
1
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of autocratic
This nonfiction account from the Pulitzer-prize winning writer analyzes 21st century autocratic states worldwide, and how democracies can best organize underneath them.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Taiwan’s parties, in other words, portray their opponents not just as politically different but as autocratic traitors.
—Lev Nachman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Aug. 2025
Europe's democratic values must not be compromised by developing procurement chains from autocratic states.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The Shah was becoming more and more autocratic and out-of-touch with Iranians.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Taiwan’s parties, in other words, portray their opponents not just as politically different but as autocratic traitors.
—Lev Nachman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Aug. 2025
Europe's democratic values must not be compromised by developing procurement chains from autocratic states.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The Shah was becoming more and more autocratic and out-of-touch with Iranians.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
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What was mostly missing was the occasional cool front that pushes out the most oppressive heat and humidity.—
Staff And Wire Reports,
Boston Herald,
10 Aug. 2025
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Driving in Palm Beach County — home to Mar-a-Lago — the windows are up, and the AC is blasting to counter the oppressive heat and humidity outside.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And this matters now more than ever, during a time when universities are dismantling their humanities programs and being pressured into pandering to authoritarian strongmen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
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Stricter parenting styles include authoritative or authoritarian styles.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There are the clever visual gags allowed by animation, like characters who quite literally shoot daggers at one another while locked in a glaring match; there are many jokes at the imperious, overconfident Marioneta’s expense.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
17 Aug. 2025
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Others compared it to a Greek monastery built on a pinnacle, or a medieval fortress imperious to sacking.—
Tom Zoellner,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Access to justice too (something often underrated), where you can’t be killed or robbed with impunity, and where you won’t be arbitrarily deprived of your liberty or your freedom of speech by a despotic government.—
Simon Boas
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
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Napoleon, the pig who takes despotic control of the farm following the revolution — voiced with haughty gusto by Seth Rogen — bears an uncanny resemblance to the current occupant of the White House.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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But this act of arrogant bullying should also re-kindle the spirit of hope and unity that swept through this community in the aftermath of that horrible night in 2016, that still binds Orlando in its 150th anniversary year.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
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Harry Potter fans might recognize Stroma for playing the arrogant Hogwarts student named Cormac McLaggen in the film franchise.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Shame on you, Mr. LaCava, for supporting the city’s new trash collection fee and for your tyrannical ideology surrounding this issue.—
Letters To The Editor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Aug. 2025
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In the sci-fi franchise, Darth Vader—adorned in a black helmet, mask and armor—is one of the main antagonists, who serves as the ruthless enforcer for a tyrannical galactic empire.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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And, when those models are grounded in authoritative case law and tax policy information that’s been curated and vetted by attorneys and CPAs, the accuracy and consistency of results is unmatched.—
Laura Clayton McDonnell,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Stricter parenting styles include authoritative or authoritarian styles.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Bob had to be valiant, dictatorial, curious, ever listening, wily, playful, deluded, strategic, flirtatious, fallible, political, and willing to protect and persevere against all doubters, critics, compass navigators, naysayers well intentioned or not.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
19 Aug. 2025
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When someone has high drive and integrity that are not balanced by other character dimensions, these strengths can become dictatorial, forceful, uncompromising, belligerent, rigid, and dogmatic, among others.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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