as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
a revolution that only ended up replacing one dictatorship with another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dictatorship
Some critics had compared the president's ambitions to the bloated military spectacles seen in dictatorships, such as the parades in honor of Kim Jong Un in North Korea, or the propaganda displays in authoritarian regimes like China and Russia.
—
Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The backdrop of the Marcos dictatorship shaped her artistic approach, defined by an interest in quotidian experience—including everyday injustices such as gender inequality and the ecological exploitation of the Philippines by greedy conglomerates.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 18 June 2025
This brings me back to the conclusion that the Venezuelan dictatorship — perhaps Latin America’s biggest potential winner of a global oil price hike — along with Colombia and Mexico may get, at best, a brief respite if the Iran war disrupts world oil shipping lanes.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
Newsom is a potential Democratic Party presidential nominee in 2028.
Democrats, partisan media and other critics of Trump are raising the spectre of diversion of our military from their proper constitutional roles, and even possible military dictatorship.
—Arthur Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The backdrop of the Marcos dictatorship shaped her artistic approach, defined by an interest in quotidian experience—including everyday injustices such as gender inequality and the ecological exploitation of the Philippines by greedy conglomerates.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 18 June 2025
This brings me back to the conclusion that the Venezuelan dictatorship — perhaps Latin America’s biggest potential winner of a global oil price hike — along with Colombia and Mexico may get, at best, a brief respite if the Iran war disrupts world oil shipping lanes.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
Newsom is a potential Democratic Party presidential nominee in 2028.
Democrats, partisan media and other critics of Trump are raising the spectre of diversion of our military from their proper constitutional roles, and even possible military dictatorship.
—Arthur Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictatorship
Noun
-
This position does not mean in any way ignoring four decades of mismanagement, corruption, oppression, tyranny and incompetence of the Islamic Republic.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
18 June 2025
-
Ever since America’s founders decided that the best way to prevent tyranny was to diffuse power across branches of government, those branches of government have competed for authority.—
Jacob Turcotte,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
The New York Times selected it as a Notable Book of the Year in 1994, praising its examination of racial justice, climate collapse and fascism.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Eldest daughter Nancy wrote incisive comic and romantic novels about her social set—as well as a sendup of fascism, Wigs on the Green.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
These distinctions also reveal shifts in the same autocracy over time.—
ELIZABETH N. SAUNDERS,
Foreign Affairs,
16 June 2025
-
The world is lurching toward autocracy, with alarming speed.—
Elisa Manfredini,
Time,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictatorship. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share