monarchism

Definition of monarchismnext
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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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 monarchism 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 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 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 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 But a slave mentality remains deeply ingrained in Russian minds, along with a latent monarchism and paternalism. Nikita Petrov, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monarchism
Noun
  • The native people of this region were not wiped out by smallpox and instead established an independent kingdom that blends a traditional monarchy with Catholicism, thanks to the efforts of some earlier missionaries.
    John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The distinction Camilla was concerned about was between the private family and the public monarchy.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • And Ric Salinas, who plays Chachalacani, humorously obliges, bringing his Culture Clash vaudeville skills to the role of the sentry who’s caught between the rock of Klion’s tyranny and his fellow feeling for Antíkona’s sympathetic cause.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Focus Features has the Andrew Garfield period movie The Uprising from Paul Greengrass which is based on the legend of Robin Hood in his crusade against King Richard II’s tyranny.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In those years many Latin American countries had repressive governments, military coups, dictatorships, and undeclared wars against the poor and the indigenous population, which were backed by the CIA in the context of the Cold War.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In Peru under dictatorship, two of three long-time lovers marry for appearances but flee from their conservative rural community for the capital after their secret is exposed by the third.
    Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Monarchism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchism. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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