as in tyranny
rule, control, or leadership by one person with absolute power
A soaring crime rate and civil unrest were harbingers to the rise of fascism in the country.
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Recent Examples of fascism
Protests against fascism have existed in the United States, and around the world, for nearly a century, dating back to when the far-right nationalist movement began to gain power in Europe in the early 20th century.
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Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
This isn’t a sign of ascendant fascism so much as the nadir of late-stage capitalism, which depends on forever wars to juice corporate profits at a time of falling rates of return on investment.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Matisse At War Amy Sherald, of course, is not the first artist to stare down fascism.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Reviving the story for Broadway in 2025, Clooney even more intentionally sought to speak truth to power and warn against the perils of fascism, state censorship, and any threat to free speech (and a free press).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fascism
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
This isn’t a sign of ascendant fascism so much as the nadir of late-stage capitalism, which depends on forever wars to juice corporate profits at a time of falling rates of return on investment.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Matisse At War Amy Sherald, of course, is not the first artist to stare down fascism.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Reviving the story for Broadway in 2025, Clooney even more intentionally sought to speak truth to power and warn against the perils of fascism, state censorship, and any threat to free speech (and a free press).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fascism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fascism
Noun
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Christian is annoyed by Max’s temporary tyranny and overall seems … normal.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.—
Michael Bloomberg,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The documentary about the perils of authoritarianism from the author of iconic 1984 and Animal Farm premiered at Cannes.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
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The rise of authoritarianism, xenophobia and nationalism is also fueling young people’s desire to act, as opportunities that were once available to their parents’ generations have nearly disappeared.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The movie, set largely in 1977 during the Brazilian military dictatorship, ends on a strange and sad note.—
Morgan Baila,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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Other Latin American countries that had suffered under military dictatorships vigorously prosecuted the perpetrators of human rights abuses, but Brazil did not follow suit.—
Omar G. Encarnación,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Except for a few shots of China’s President Xi presiding over a military parade, the film’s image of totalitarianism leans far more toward right-wing regimes; to leave out Mao, or Castro, feels like a mistake.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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Eclectic traditionalism, remade on an elephantine scale, is the style of totalitarianism.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fascism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fascism. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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