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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of autocratic
Inside China, however, the country often seems to be not taking over the world so much as sinking into an autocratic abyss.
—
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Indonesia’s increasingly autocratic national government has decided that the country’s new capital, now under construction on the east coast of Borneo, will have no local government at all.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Tether is very popular in Turkey, whose financial system has been significantly weakened by the current government, whose autocratic style incentivises business to transact ‘outside’ the existing economic system.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
These groups endorse contests that are neither free nor fair, providing autocratic leaders a way to dispute the assessments of more reliable election monitors, such as the Carter Center.
—Sarah Bush, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
Indonesia’s increasingly autocratic national government has decided that the country’s new capital, now under construction on the east coast of Borneo, will have no local government at all.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Tether is very popular in Turkey, whose financial system has been significantly weakened by the current government, whose autocratic style incentivises business to transact ‘outside’ the existing economic system.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
These groups endorse contests that are neither free nor fair, providing autocratic leaders a way to dispute the assessments of more reliable election monitors, such as the Carter Center.
—Sarah Bush, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
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Related Stories Farrelly thinks that kind of oppressive political correctness is fading and that audiences are eager to see movies that eviscerate good taste in order to land a joke again.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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Pitted against the unforgettably evil Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a sadist who drugs and abuses the unlucky patients in her care, McMurphy’s stand against the oppressive powers that be is tragic and poignant and spoke to the spirit of a time in which so many felt misunderstood.—
Christina Newland,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tanks rumbled through Tiananmen Square, a location that offered a stark reminder of how authoritarian states can violently crush democratic movements.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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On Thursday morning, opposition party Vente Venezuela denounced the detention of Julio Velazco, a local activist involved with the campaign of Maria Corina Machado, the main opposition leader who is still in hiding after the authoritarian push that followed the election.—
Andrew Raine,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Sanseitō also faces a daunting range of challenges to build and sustain a national movement, not the least of which is Kamiya’s erratic and imperious style.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
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Anthony Elanga impressed on debut and Sandro Tonali’s imperious dominance created a foundation for a strong result.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This is how legal systems in despotic regimes operate.—
Andrew Binns,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Academy rules work for countries with democratic governments but not for countries with despotic regimes.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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These early years emphasized goofiness, offensiveness, and mocking arrogant celebrities who pushed their platforms at award shows.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Aug. 2025
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The announcement was made during a backstage segment involving NXT General Manager Ava and the arrogant superstar Lexis King.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The citizens of Venezuela don't deserve to live under the tyrannical rule of Maduro or any of his henchmen!—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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With Rome's descent under tyrannical rule, Lucius must step into the gladiatorial ring and fight like his father before him for survival.—
James Mercadante,
People.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In June, more than 20 authoritative organizations, including the National Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed serious concerns for the health impacts of overhauling the advisory committee.—
Jordan Miller,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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In a time of noise and distraction, his quiet yet authoritative voice continues to show the way.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That Trump would explicitly address the dictator issue this week reflects just how head-spinningly fast his dictatorial actions have been coming at us.—
Jackie Calmes,
Mercury News,
30 Aug. 2025
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La'An, meanwhile, starts to exhibit the dictatorial traits of the warmongering Romulans, who — unbeknown to most of the Federation — split off from the Vulcans to go their own way a few millennia previously.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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