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
  • It’s celebrated on July 14 because that’s the day Parisians stormed the Bastille fortress and prison in 1789, helping spark the French Revolution that overthrew the monarchy and sent King Louis XVI and his queen Marie-Antoinette to the guillotine.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • Japan’s monarchy has for centuries maintained male-only succession, which is on-brand for a deeply patriarchal society where men dominate other spheres of life such as business and politics.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • In the film, out September 11, Garfield plays Ploughman, the legendary leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 July 2026
  • Ḥusayn’s death became for the Shiʿah a symbol of selfless resistance against worldly injustice and tyranny and is commemorated with lamentation each year on Ashura.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • The 1978 World Cup edition was played in and won by an Argentina ruled by a military dictatorship that forcibly disappeared thousands of people.
    Minky Worden, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • They were invaded in 1982 under orders from Argentina’s then-military dictatorship, triggering a 10-week war won by Britain.
    Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

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“Monarchism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchism. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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