as in monarchy
a system of government in which there is only one ruler whose power is unlimited
In the past, monarchism was the world's most common system of government.
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Recent Examples of monarchism
But a slave mentality remains deeply ingrained in Russian minds, along with a latent monarchism and paternalism.
—
Nikita Petrov, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
But for anyone outside the British elite, the constitutional monarchism that emerged after the civil wars did not look much like democracy or true liberty.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
Yet, paradoxically, the regular waves of anti-monarchism were held at bay largely by the sheer, irrefutable fact of her continued existence.
—Vulture, 8 Sep. 2022
And the Decemberists tried to overthrow the Tsar and insist on having some of the more basic aspects of representative constitutional monarchism introduced into Russia.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2022
King Charles can take strength from the inherent monarchism of the British people, which grew even stronger in the last two decades of Elizabeth’s reign.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022
For in the dozen or so countries that make up South-East Asia, liberal democracy has long struggled in the face of authoritarianism, bolstered by monarchism, nationalism and ethnic chauvinism.
—The Economist, 24 May 2018
Now, Morocco and Jordan have toned down reformism and presented a new bottom line to their societies and the world: Ruling monarchism is here to stay.
—Sean Yom, Washington Post, 16 May 2017
The tsarist and Soviet styles collide; monarchism and elitism are imposed on the industrial, the everyday.
—Sophie Pinkham, New Republic, 3 July 2017
Nikita Petrov, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
But for anyone outside the British elite, the constitutional monarchism that emerged after the civil wars did not look much like democracy or true liberty.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
Yet, paradoxically, the regular waves of anti-monarchism were held at bay largely by the sheer, irrefutable fact of her continued existence.
—Vulture, 8 Sep. 2022
And the Decemberists tried to overthrow the Tsar and insist on having some of the more basic aspects of representative constitutional monarchism introduced into Russia.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2022
King Charles can take strength from the inherent monarchism of the British people, which grew even stronger in the last two decades of Elizabeth’s reign.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022
For in the dozen or so countries that make up South-East Asia, liberal democracy has long struggled in the face of authoritarianism, bolstered by monarchism, nationalism and ethnic chauvinism.
—The Economist, 24 May 2018
Now, Morocco and Jordan have toned down reformism and presented a new bottom line to their societies and the world: Ruling monarchism is here to stay.
—Sean Yom, Washington Post, 16 May 2017
The tsarist and Soviet styles collide; monarchism and elitism are imposed on the industrial, the everyday.
—Sophie Pinkham, New Republic, 3 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monarchism
Noun
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Khomeini sought to replace the monarchy with a religious state ruled by an Islamic jurist.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
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The country has for years been dominated by a conservative establishment comprising the military, the monarchy and influential elites.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose own family fled Cuba, surely understands the desperation that drives people to seek refuge from tyranny.—
Arlene Marcus,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Aug. 2025
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Had any Democratic president tried to so directly politicize these independent agencies Republicans would be screaming about the coming tyranny.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Instead, the Islamic Republic survives as a massively unpopular dictatorship, economically ruined, internationally isolated, and battered by both the U.S. and Israel.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
5 Aug. 2025
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This, in turn spawned totalitarian dictatorships and led to World War II.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Monarchism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchism. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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