AUTOCRATICAL Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

autocratic

adjective

ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-tik

variants also autocratical

Definition of autocratic

as in authoritarian

exercising power or authority without interference by others democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in domineering

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

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 Indeed, the King would later establish the Instrument of Foundation of the Royal Academy as a more autocratic counterpart. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 But there simply aren’t that many people who want an autocratic America. — Matthew E.k. Hall, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026 Putin was also at the parade, with the three autocratic leaders putting on an unprecedented show of unity. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 5 June 2026 Activists in the industrial labor movement, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, compared their autocratic bosses to King George III and insisted that every American, native-born or immigrant, had the right to join a union and go on strike. — Michael Kazin, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for autocratic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic

Adjective

Reliable polling remains scarce under the country’s authoritarian system.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 30 July 2026
And both men, despite misgivings among parts of their own populations about their corrupt and authoritarian tendencies, were largely welcomed in the West as reformers and promising economic partners.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026

Definition of authoritarian

Adjective

The trope, fair or not, has often overshadowed the fact that science fiction and horror are absolutely perfect bedfellows, with outer space's total isolation, tiny quarters, and oppressive vastness perfectly suited for the horror genre.

— Matthew Razak, Space.com, 26 July 2026
Crews are working nonstop to meet Mayor Karen Bass’ mid-August deadline to clear out 85 million pounds of food that continues to rot in oppressive heat.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Definition of oppressive

Adjective

Perhaps in the arrogant belief that a war with Iran would quickly end in a decisive victory, the Pentagon did not have cost-effective systems ready to intercept these weapons.

— Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
Nick Aldis’ wife Mickie James was ringside, where she was taunted by an arrogant Gunther.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Loss of credibility leads to loss of legitimacy in a despotic regime.

— Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
The pretence of an absolute, irresistible, despotic power, existing in every government somewhere, is incompatible with the first principle of natural right.

— Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Definition of despotic

Adjective

The Hawaiians viewed the new rules as tyrannical; those with the disease were wont to hide in the hills of the islands, forever on the run.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Earth’s fighters team up to stop the tyrannical emperor Shao Kahn, with the help of the deadly Edenian princess Kitana.

— Arushi Jacob, Variety, 17 July 2026

Definition of tyrannical

Adjective

As pointed out by Cox, Zagallo was only brought in as manager in the March of 1970 after his predecessor, Saldanha, had fallen out with Brazil’s dictatorial president Emilio Medici.

— Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Perhaps, no seriously, this is the continuation of the overshadowing dictatorial style coming from Washington, as evidenced flowing through the Paramount takeover of CBS and the subsequent displacement of other highly qualified CBS talent.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026

Definition of dictatorial

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autocratic

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“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of autocratic

adjective

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