Synonyms of dictator

dictator

noun

ˈdik-ˌtā-tər 

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

• tyrant
• despot
• ruler
• pharaoh
• warlord
• strongman
• oppressor
• man on horseback
• führer
• overlord
• caesar
• tycoon
• leader
• king
• autocrat
• authoritarian
• prince
• monarch
• magnate
• totalitarian
• boss
• caudillo
• potentate
• tyrannizer
• baron
• dominator
• sovereign
• czar
• chief
• master
• queen
• lord
• Big Brother
• paramount
• captain
• autarch
• mogul
• monocrat
• kingpin
• taskmaster
• martinet
• enforcer
• disciplinarian
• discipliner

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dictator

Militarily, the French dictator’s 1798 invasion of Egypt was a disaster. — Daisy Shaw-Ellis, Vanity Fair, 20 July 2026

When elites are strong, dictators need to accommodate them, often by repressing outsiders to shield insiders from potential challenges. — José Kaire, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

In the 2022 election, Sara was the running mate of presidential candidate Marcos Jr, son of the dictator who ruled for 20 years before being deposed in 1986. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 9 July 2026

Trump has praised Communist dictators in terms unlike those used by any American president outside the context of a wartime alliance. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026