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
Relevance
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of autocratic
Most Third World states, for example, that were born as democracies lapsed into dictatorships or became autocratic shortly after independence.
—
Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
This is also a real turn in terms of the completely autocratic way in which Department of Homeland Security staff responded to the incident.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
Congress must impeach Trump to protect us President Donald Trump sending the National Guard into Los Angeles is his step forward to use the U.S. military to quell legal protests here in the U.S. and, in my opinion, to seize autocratic power.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
Charles Franklin Seabrook, my grandfather, was the principal dreamer, main promoter, political fixer, master builder, and autocratic ruler of this industrial farming empire—and ultimately its destroyer.
—John Seabrook
june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
This is also a real turn in terms of the completely autocratic way in which Department of Homeland Security staff responded to the incident.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
Congress must impeach Trump to protect us President Donald Trump sending the National Guard into Los Angeles is his step forward to use the U.S. military to quell legal protests here in the U.S. and, in my opinion, to seize autocratic power.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
Charles Franklin Seabrook, my grandfather, was the principal dreamer, main promoter, political fixer, master builder, and autocratic ruler of this industrial farming empire—and ultimately its destroyer.
—John Seabrook
june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
-
Since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the group has implemented a string of oppressive measures against women and girls, even cracking down on the sound of women’s voices in public.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
-
Others reject the portrayal of federal actions as oppressive, suggesting deployments like those in Los Angeles prioritize national security and immigration enforcement.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Defending institutions of higher education from increasingly authoritarian measures is an important way to safeguard not only academic freedom, but the legacy of 1776 as well.—
Time,
Time,
1 July 2025
-
Even among authoritarian regimes, differences in values can limit cooperation.—
Leon Aron,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
But his life takes a turn for the absurd with the arrival of a beautiful Frenchwoman, Valérie, with an imperious chihuahua, just as another guest goes missing.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
25 June 2025
-
England opening batter Ben Duckett has started the summer in imperious form.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Bernal as a despotic and at times deluded Magellan persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold 16th century expedition to the fabled lands of the East, only to unleash a decade of devastation wreaked by European conquistadors in the Pacific as part of colonial conquests.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Her larger-than-life ego and past as a shaman make Player 044 come off as arrogant and selfish, getting under just about everyone's skin.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
-
In 2022, Ackles joined the cast of Prime Video's The Boys as arrogant superhero Soldier Boy.—
Brianne Tracy,
People.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
The regime’s tyrannical efforts to control and extinguish their savings were futile against their newfound freedom money.—
Mauricio Di Bartolomeo,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
In the sequel, Atwood focuses on how tyrannical regimes destroy themselves.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
Whereas serif fonts feel authoritative and timeless, sans serif fonts can feel modern or informal.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Ralphs’ tasteful, authoritative and often-underrated guitar work and songwriting acumen were a trademark of both bands across the 1970s.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
In 2023's The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the first Hunger Games prequel story, Tom Blyth portrayed a younger version of President Snow, depicted as a Hunger Games mentor who begins rising toward his eventual dictatorial role within Collins' fictional Panem. 28 Years Later is in theaters now.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
21 June 2025
-
Even his former closest associates now acknowledge that his political efforts have not lasted more than a few weeks or at most a few months, due to his dictatorial approach.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share