fascism

noun

Definition of fascismnext
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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 fascism At least a million soldiers fighting in the British and French armies against fascism were Muslims. — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 And yet, amid their country’s slide into fascism, these folks persisted — for a while longer, at least. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 The film starts in Paris but Taro’s story begins in her native Leipzig in 1932, where Gerta Pohorylle, as she is then known, is a young woman whose political conscience is awakened by the rise of fascism. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 There are so many aspects — of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, all the isms, and fascism, which is coming back — that avoiding politics would be anti-historical. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fascism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fascism
  1. tyranny
  2. dictatorship
  3. totalitarianism
  4. authoritarianism
Noun
  • But, as Roy points out, finding love with Ellen actually gives Brian the strength to stand up to Lovat’s tyranny rather than bow to it.
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Lawmakers from Fidesz and its coalition party, the Christian Democrats, did not take part in Monday’s vote, calling the charges against their lawmakers political tyranny by Magyar’s government.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of tyranny
Noun
  • Several of Flávio Bolsonaro’s proposals also warrant close scrutiny, including his pledge to rewrite Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, which marked the end of military dictatorship and the restoration of democracy in the country.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In 1981, with the end of the civil-military dictatorship on the near horizon, Piero planned his return to Argentina, stopping in Uruguay first.
    — Humphrey Inzillo, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of dictatorship
Noun
  • Most often, socialism morphs into totalitarianism, as its egalitarian ideals are no match for human nature.
    — Nolan Finley The Detroit News, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Interesting, too, how the project’s warnings about Russian totalitarianism, particularly stark in DAU.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of totalitarianism
Noun
  • Deploying government agencies without regard for facts or consequences is, of course, a hallmark of authoritarianism.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • There have been great inequalities, great challenges, authoritarianism, fascism in the past, and people stand up against it.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of authoritarianism

Browse Nearby Words

fascination
fascism
fashion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fascism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fascism. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fascism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fascism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All