1
as in monarchy
a system of government in which a religious body holds unlimited power
Under a theocracy, an entire nation officially follows one religion.
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2
as in democracy
a group of people who live in a territory ruled by a religious body
The country was a theocracy governed by religious leaders.
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Recent Examples of theocracy
By definition, regime change is systemic change – something that has yet to be seen in the Islamic Republic, which remains under the same authoritarian theocracy that has been in place since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
—
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
As such, the system that initially emerged in 1979 was neither a pure theocracy nor a conventional republic.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump’s motivation for entering the war has been scattered, mostly bouncing between overthrowing Iran’s totalitarian theocracy and eliminating the nation’s nuclear capability.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Achieving those goals would require a sharp course correction by the theocracy that has been in charge of the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution or its removal.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theocracy
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
As such, the system that initially emerged in 1979 was neither a pure theocracy nor a conventional republic.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump’s motivation for entering the war has been scattered, mostly bouncing between overthrowing Iran’s totalitarian theocracy and eliminating the nation’s nuclear capability.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Achieving those goals would require a sharp course correction by the theocracy that has been in charge of the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution or its removal.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theocracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theocracy
Noun
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The British monarchy has been around for more than a thousand years, and counting.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
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Nor are there plans for Charles to meet with his son Prince Harry, who has been a critic of the monarchy since giving up royal duties and moving to California.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In Qalqilya, a city where no slates registered to participate at all, Marwan Ennabi said elections didn't reflect that Palestinian democracy was thriving or capable of changing the deteriorating conditions on the ground.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
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Our democracy works best when voters choose their representatives — not the other way around.—
Allyson Meyers,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2022
Noun
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Consider going out to look for special furniture or items that could transform your home into even more of a kingdom.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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The deal is expected to include promoting music events held in the kingdom to global audiences, and may also cover sports tournaments hosted in the country.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Anti-dictatorship, but for kids Serkis scrubs the story of its violence, at least in any graphic manner.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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In a nation that has long prided itself on a free and vibrant news media, rights watchdogs and lawmakers from across the political spectrum denounced the move as an attack on the press without precedent since the end of Argentina’s military dictatorship in 1983.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gerrymandering as a practice goes back to the beginnings of the republic—the term comes from maps drawn under Governor Elbridge Gerry in 1812.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
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The question of a central bank’s role and responsibility in our republic dates to America’s founding.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theocracy. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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