BUREAUCRATIC Synonyms: 15 Similar and Opposite Words

bureaucratic

adjective

Definition of bureaucratic

as in governmental

of, relating to, or like a nonelective government official or body of government officials a bureaucratic institution bureaucratic procedures

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 bureaucratic Her post went viral, and the military moved to restore them, citing bureaucratic oversight. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026 Reform of Board of Regents system Several lawmakers have called for an entire reform of the governance structure of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents, saying the system is broken, bureaucratic and lacks accountability. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 23 Sep. 2026 For more than two decades, bad science and bureaucratic inertia have resulted in women and physicians having an incomplete view of HRT. — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 Nepali lawmakers have slammed the administration over bureaucratic delays in distributing resources after the floods, including medical equipment and staffing of medical facilities. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bureaucratic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bureaucratic

Adjective

As a public university, ASU could also assert statutory governmental immunity, a legal doctrine protecting public entities from liability in certain circumstances, including some policy-level decisions.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Lula, meanwhile, has argued for a more prominent role of the federal government in the fight against organized crime as well as greater coordination between governmental institutions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of governmental

Adjective

Lack of parliamentary support in late July prevented the approval of similar measures.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
The announcement came four days after results of parliamentary elections were announced, with Mansouri’s centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party, or PAM, the highest vote-getter.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of parliamentary

Adjective

Aubrey Layne, Sentara’s chief administrative officer, said lower payment rates from government programs — and impending cuts to Medicaid — are forcing the hospital to play hardball with the insurers that are representing employers.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Organizations must also prioritize educating all users, from classroom teachers and administrative staff to senior leadership, on their roles.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of administrative

Browse Nearby Words

bureaucrateses

bureaucratic

bureaucrats

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bureaucratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bureaucratic. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bureaucratic

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

discreet

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes