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.
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 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
The tsarist and Soviet styles collide; monarchism and elitism are imposed on the industrial, the everyday.
—Sophie Pinkham, New Republic, 3 July 2017
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
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
The tsarist and Soviet styles collide; monarchism and elitism are imposed on the industrial, the everyday.
—Sophie Pinkham, New Republic, 3 July 2017
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monarchism
Noun
-
The estimate shows that the family private-equity fund has added another $320 million, most of it from managing money contributed to oil-rich Persian Gulf monarchies, including Qatar.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
For three centuries, Denmark has been the sovereign power here, a tiny European monarchy still reigning over Greenland’s 57,000 people, as well as its vast swathes of harsh and resource-rich terrain.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The tyranny of any minority cannot and must not be allowed to stifle discussion and rule over our land.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Though officially prohibited, Western movies, music and television circulated widely as contraband and highlighted themes like resistance to tyranny and the moral superiority of the West.—
Ilan Berman,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In 1979, when Chile was under the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, 19-year-old Soto gave birth to the twin girls in the coastal town of Hualpén in Biobío province.—
Rafael Romo,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The police and the prosecutor’s office, faithful tools of the dictatorship, captured 13 businessmen in just a few hours, including two who had come to negotiate at Casa Presidencial.—
Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez,
The Dial,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Monarchism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchism. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share