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
Warnings of Bukele's turn to autocratic rule came as early as eight months into his presidency.
—
Juanita Goebertus, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Juanita Goebertus, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
-
Its pace is slow — occasionally, but rarely, to its detriment — but this clearly deliberate tempo gives you the chance to shoulder the burdens of its oppressive atmosphere and settle into its many puzzles, which regularly trade logic for personal interpretation, and occasionally just vibes.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
This process includes questioning the logics and myths that uphold the status quo and calling out oppression as part of the struggle toward an anti-oppressive future.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, the same institutions once intimidated by authoritarian power have declared that a former commander-in-chief conspired to revoke the 2022 election, assassinate rivals, and eventually unleash street chaos to hold on to power.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Ray's father was a dissenter who was executed by the Major himself for his outspoken anti-authoritarian views, and Ray wants revenge.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Americans of a certain type can be just as imperious as their European cousins.—
Louis J. Esterhazy,
Footwear News,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The 22-year-old has looked imperious on his way to the final four, not dropping a set.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is how legal systems in despotic regimes operate.—
Andrew Binns,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Academy rules work for countries with democratic governments but not for countries with despotic regimes.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Zane played the arrogant Cal Hockley, who was engaged to Jack's love interest, Rose (played by Kate Winslet).—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share