1
as in authoritarian
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a dictatorial leader with total control over people's lives
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in domineering
fond of ordering people around
no surprise that the dictatorial manager is highly unpopular among employees
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3
as in arbitrary
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
even the teachers chafed under the dictatorial rule of the principal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dictatorial
Rubio has been carrying out dictatorial measures at home.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
Sharp’s work has been used as an essential guide for democracy activists under dictatorial regimes in countries such as Serbia, Burma, and Iran.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Maduro made it to the Presidency because of a decision by Hugo Chávez, a very popular and populist President who became semi-dictatorial.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
International election watchdogs, including the United States, say Maduro manipulated the ballot results in order to steal a third term in office and continue his dictatorial reign.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictatorial
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
Sharp’s work has been used as an essential guide for democracy activists under dictatorial regimes in countries such as Serbia, Burma, and Iran.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Maduro made it to the Presidency because of a decision by Hugo Chávez, a very popular and populist President who became semi-dictatorial.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
International election watchdogs, including the United States, say Maduro manipulated the ballot results in order to steal a third term in office and continue his dictatorial reign.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictatorial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictatorial
Adjective
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Despite his progressive views, he was widely seen as an authoritarian and a despot.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
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Scientific institutions represent a potential pillar of support for an increasingly authoritarian government.—
Jenna Norton,
STAT,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But another, on a purely narrative level, is how the Wiggin sisters were driven by a domineering dad, Austin Wiggin, as much as the Wilson brothers were by the infamous Murray Wilson, as Pat Thomas notes in the movie (also bringing up Joe Jackson as an even scarier reference).—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
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Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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InThis arbitrary selection was not a neutral act of civic stewardship.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
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The report did not say exactly how many people are subject to arbitrary detention.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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McElya described this as an oppressive framework that barred representation of LGBTQ+ identities.—
Elijah Polance,
Hartford Courant,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This is an organization that can be frustratingly set in its ways and arrogant in its belief that there’s no better way.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Those thousands of Iranians who poured out on the streets of Tehran were supposed to be calling for the toppling of the autocratic Islamist regime.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
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Memories of the shah's autocratic rule remain mixed in the country, although nostalgia for the period's economic prosperity has grown.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The monarchist movement has not governed Iran since 1979, and its corrupt, despotic leader was overthrown in the revolution.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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My ability to complete Ballot during a genocide and despotic takeover hinged on confronting these uncomfortable truths.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Enslaved by a tyrannical regime for nearly half a century, everyday Iranians long passionately for their freedom, as the rebellion earlier this year showed.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Our founding fathers experienced the heavy hand of a tyrannical government.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictatorial. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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