as in tyrants
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
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Recent Examples of dictators
As the President insults allies, woos dictators, and spurns long-standing commitments, Rubio has to convince his counterparts that America will not entirely abandon its friends.
—
Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
In return, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Mainly for the money Among the fraternity of dictators such revenue streams have now gone mainstream.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
The specter of the Arab Spring, where dictators fell across the region only for chaos to follow, looms large.
—Paul Wallace, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
The world’s dictators and terrorists commit acts of aggression not because the United States does, but when the United States and its allies don’t stop them.
—Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
This is what dictators do, not American presidents.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Freedom and rule of law were defended last night, but dictators will try to exploit this to rationalize their selfish objectives.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2026
Every culture relates it to its own dictators.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2025
Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
In return, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Mainly for the money Among the fraternity of dictators such revenue streams have now gone mainstream.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
The specter of the Arab Spring, where dictators fell across the region only for chaos to follow, looms large.
—Paul Wallace, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
The world’s dictators and terrorists commit acts of aggression not because the United States does, but when the United States and its allies don’t stop them.
—Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
This is what dictators do, not American presidents.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Freedom and rule of law were defended last night, but dictators will try to exploit this to rationalize their selfish objectives.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2026
Every culture relates it to its own dictators.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictators
tyrants
Noun
-
After more than a century of plunder and strife, under tyrants as diverse as King Leopold II of Belgium and Mobutu Sese Seko, the present-day DRC still occupies the dark heart of the continent in much of the world’s imagination.—
Holden Frith,
TheWeek,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The rule of law that once distinguished American power from the impunity of tyrants has been deliberately dismantled, one opinion at a time.—
Jon Duffy,
Mercury News,
29 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictators. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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