as in tyrant
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance
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Recent Examples of dictator
What did Lyndon Johnson want in return, besides friendships with a military dictator and Karachi’s camel cart driver?
—
Mohammed Hanif, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
But wooing Western partners would likely involve some compromises that these dictators are probably unwilling to make.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That Trump would explicitly address the dictator issue this week reflects just how head-spinningly fast his dictatorial actions have been coming at us.
—Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Vox has adopted Franco’s narrative on Spanish national identity and made the rehabilitation of the dictator a key part of its electoral campaign.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Mohammed Hanif, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
But wooing Western partners would likely involve some compromises that these dictators are probably unwilling to make.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
That Trump would explicitly address the dictator issue this week reflects just how head-spinningly fast his dictatorial actions have been coming at us.
—Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Vox has adopted Franco’s narrative on Spanish national identity and made the rehabilitation of the dictator a key part of its electoral campaign.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictator
tyrant
Noun
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So, the politicians must do more than push back against the White House tyrant.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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And while the band's frontman Freddie Mercury only made it into his 40s, the song's question continues to haunt people—especially aging tyrants who fear that the icy hand of death is upon their shoulder and want far more time to ensure both national and personal glory.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictator. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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