as in rulers
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
European autocrats once commonly believed that they had received the right to rule directly from God
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Recent Examples of autocrats
But the thing about play that feels essential at this point in history is that autocrats hate play.
—
Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
The idea that speech or thought contrary to the government line could trigger punishment is the dream of autocrats.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
And as is true in all fights against cowardly, bullying, thin-skinned autocrats, our weakness was provocative.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Fear, after all, is an essential tool for all autocrats, and Hamas is no exception.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Both would be peace efforts – but Trump is well known to praise these autocrats.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Most of the countries represented at the summit were represented by autocrats of one or other description—such as Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Responses that, early on, can feel pragmatic—waiting it out, remaining silent, cutting a deal—only embolden autocrats, leading ultimately to the demise of democracy itself.
—Daniel Ziblatt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
If not, aggressive autocrats around the world could learn that violating the sovereignty of weaker neighbors pays off.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
The idea that speech or thought contrary to the government line could trigger punishment is the dream of autocrats.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
And as is true in all fights against cowardly, bullying, thin-skinned autocrats, our weakness was provocative.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Fear, after all, is an essential tool for all autocrats, and Hamas is no exception.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Both would be peace efforts – but Trump is well known to praise these autocrats.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Most of the countries represented at the summit were represented by autocrats of one or other description—such as Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Responses that, early on, can feel pragmatic—waiting it out, remaining silent, cutting a deal—only embolden autocrats, leading ultimately to the demise of democracy itself.
—Daniel Ziblatt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
If not, aggressive autocrats around the world could learn that violating the sovereignty of weaker neighbors pays off.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocrats
Noun
-
Successive Iranian rulers believed that dams, deep wells, and inter-basin transfers could outsmart geography and climate.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Regardless, its existence was a political statement and a sign of wealth, as large rectangular stone towers were generally limited to rival Anglo-Norman lords and rulers.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Remarkably, 12 European countries are still ruled by monarchs—nearly one-third the world’s total—many of them small nations like Denmark and Monaco.—
Vivienne Walt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Cutting back on mowing, limiting pesticides and creating windbreaks will all help monarchs survive.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocrats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocrats. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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