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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 dictator
The most famous of these dictators was Cincinnatus, a farmer who was called to defend the Roman Republic in 458 B.C.
—
Frederic J. Fransen, Twin Cities, 11 June 2025
Constitutional scholars and some members of Congress have also questioned the domestic deployment of military forces, especially without the consent of local and state officials — calling it a tactic of dictators and authoritarian regimes.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025
Newsom brands Trump a ‘dictator’ after National Guard deployed
The deployment marks the first time federal troops have been deployed on domestic soil against the wishes of state authorities since the 1960s.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 10 June 2025
But the landing eventually led to the defeat of Nazi Germany and dictator Adolf Hitler.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Frederic J. Fransen, Twin Cities, 11 June 2025
Constitutional scholars and some members of Congress have also questioned the domestic deployment of military forces, especially without the consent of local and state officials — calling it a tactic of dictators and authoritarian regimes.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025
Newsom brands Trump a ‘dictator’ after National Guard deployed
The deployment marks the first time federal troops have been deployed on domestic soil against the wishes of state authorities since the 1960s.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 10 June 2025
But the landing eventually led to the defeat of Nazi Germany and dictator Adolf Hitler.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictator
tyrant
Noun
-
While the modern world rages outside their four walls, everything inside is immune to the tyrant of time.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 June 2025
-
But is that the same for employees who work for a tyrant?—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictator. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share