variants
also autocratical
1
as in authoritarian
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 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
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Recent Examples of autocratic
Supporters of Hungary’s Tisza party and its lead candidate, Péter Magyar, celebrated in the streets of Budapest after soundly defeating Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party in a general election, removing the autocratic Orbán from office after 16 years.
—
Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
The end of Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime is a victory not just for Hungary, but for people who value democracy around the world.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
Even with a fragile ceasefire in place with Iran, Trump’s support for Orbán may not work out for the autocratic Hungarian leader, who faces a tough election this weekend.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
The civil wars that followed were ignited by violent crackdowns by autocratic rulers of those states, even as outside powers, including Iran in Syria, quickly intervened to prolong the fighting and support their allies.
—Frederic Wehrey, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
The end of Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime is a victory not just for Hungary, but for people who value democracy around the world.
—Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
Even with a fragile ceasefire in place with Iran, Trump’s support for Orbán may not work out for the autocratic Hungarian leader, who faces a tough election this weekend.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
The civil wars that followed were ignited by violent crackdowns by autocratic rulers of those states, even as outside powers, including Iran in Syria, quickly intervened to prolong the fighting and support their allies.
—Frederic Wehrey, Time, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
-
Advertisement The orthodox and authoritarian left in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has, in many ways, sabotaged and delayed the renewal of the Latin American left.—
Carlos Manuel Alvarez,
Time,
24 Apr. 2026
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Snow’s life’s work has been sustaining a Hobbesian authoritarian government.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Token, pushover human Seth (Gil Ozeri) lives under the thumb of the tiny, domineering dog Brandi (the incomparable Amy Sedaris), a high maintenance diva with a yen for single-use Stanley cups.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
After moving at a glacial pace—it’s been 20 years since the original 2006 film—the movie is having its world premiere on Monday evening, reintroducing a select group of New Yorkers to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly, the chicly domineering editor in chief of Runway magazine.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Their film, created by a Palestinian-Israeli collective during oppressive times, aims to challenge the ongoing expulsion and propose a vision of equality.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Their rich odor was almost oppressive.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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To this point, the Heat arguably have been too stubborn, or too arrogant, in belief that the quick fix was just around the corner.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His style is relaxed and confident, not arrogant.—
Tara Klein,
SPIN,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The European Union first sanctioned him in 2008, and imposed parallel sanctions in 2022 over the use of live ammunition, arbitrary detention of protesters and journalists, and the violent suppression of demonstrations.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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But at the meeting, there was an admission that that number was an arbitrary figure.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hard to Be a God is about a planet that has not been allowed to advance beyond the Middle Ages, and descended into a filthy, despotic, and violent world.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
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Remarkably, among the foremost critics of Cuba’s single-party despotic rule is one of Castro’s own daughters, Alina Fernández Revuelta.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Uprising centers on the untold story of a rebellion against tyrannical King Richard II.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
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The Trueba family’s passions, struggles, and secrets span a century of violent social change, culminating in a crisis that hurls the proud, tyrannical patriarch and his beloved granddaughter towards opposite sides of the fence.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The upper ranks of the dictatorial regime’s leadership have been decimated.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Aggressive, a bit dictatorial’.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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