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 Worner said the process is more bureaucratic and cut-and-dried than some might think of a religious process, and likened the process of making a bill into a law. — Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026 France’s reputation for red tape and bureaucratic excess very much applies to AC units. — CNN Money, 7 July 2026 In essence, when education is experienced merely as a series of bureaucratic obstacles to overcome rather than opportunities for growth, cheating becomes easier to rationalize. — Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 July 2026 Redesigning workflows, confronting misaligned incentives, or undoing bureaucratic creep is far harder than telling people to toughen up. — Frantz M. Berthaud, STAT, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bureaucratic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bureaucratic

Adjective

This work to address data center load variability comes at a time of mounting public and governmental pressure.

— Drew Robb, IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026
Records obtained by the Star-Telegram show governmental agencies in the state will fight to withhold information that has been deemed public, raising questions about transparency while taxpayers shoulder litigation costs.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026

Definition of governmental

Adjective

Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman with no political background, emerged as a consensus candidate in Iraq after months of deadlock over the premiership following last year’s parliamentary elections.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
In Britain, these rising threats have caused one in three MPs who participated in a parliamentary survey to consider not standing for re-election, and affected their relationship with their constituents.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Definition of parliamentary

Adjective

This administrative validation completes the technical-economic review and establishes the regulatory path required for manufacturing and structural deployment in the Far East region.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026
Officer Malcolm Joseph is on unpaid administrative leave during an internal investigation, according to a CMPD news release.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 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 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bureaucratic

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on bureaucratic

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

maverick

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes