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
Created by Handmaid’s Tale showrunner and executive producer Bruce Miller, the coming-of-age story is set in the dystopian theocracy of Gilead more than 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, that finds a new generation of young women grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations were sparked by economic grievances as the rial currency crashed and inflation soared, morphing into one of the biggest challenges the Islamic Republic faced in the theocracy’s 47-year history, as thousands of people took to the streets to demand the end of the ruling clergy.
—Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 25 Jan. 2026
Protests challenging Iran’s theocracy have gained traction in recent weeks as Iranian leadership forcefully tamps down on the demonstrations.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
Could Iran resemble China and shift from theocracy to technocracy?
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theocracy
Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations were sparked by economic grievances as the rial currency crashed and inflation soared, morphing into one of the biggest challenges the Islamic Republic faced in the theocracy’s 47-year history, as thousands of people took to the streets to demand the end of the ruling clergy.
—Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 25 Jan. 2026
Protests challenging Iran’s theocracy have gained traction in recent weeks as Iranian leadership forcefully tamps down on the demonstrations.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
Could Iran resemble China and shift from theocracy to technocracy?
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theocracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theocracy
Noun
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In 2024, under Malaysia’s unique rotating monarchy, the current Sultan of Johor, Ibrahim Ibni Iskandar, was crowned the nation’s king for five years, shining a brighter spotlight on his state.—
Jeff Chu,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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One person who worked on the project said the UAE hopes the chatbot will project a political line consistent with the monarchy’s.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The democracy advocate’s arrest and trial have raised concerns about the decline of press freedom in what was once an Asian bastion of media independence.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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And the essence of democracy — public debate over public policy — would be hollowed out entirely.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 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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Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday a major investment package in Syria spanning energy, aviation, real estate and telecommunications, as the kingdom positions itself as a leading backer of Syria’s new leadership.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
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Since then, Mukaab, a massive cuboid building, has been cancelled elsewhere in the kingdom due to cost concerns.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The royal government was also known as a dictatorship for banning political parties, suppressing revolts and political opposition, controlling the press and having its own secret police force called SAVAK.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Throughout, Hadi calls attention to the brutality that’s endemic in Iraqi daily life under a dictatorship.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The two former Soviet republics, Armenia and Azerbaijan, agreed under the deal to reopen key transportation routes and bolster cooperation with the United States in energy, technology and economy.—
MICHELLE L. PRICE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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The uniforms originally featured Toussaint Louverture, the former slave who led a revolution that created the world’s first Black republic in 1804, astride a red horse.—
Stefanie Dazio,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theocracy. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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