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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of theocracy
King’s Chapel was established in 1683 as the first Anglican church in New England, which was settled starting in 1620 by dissenters who wanted a theocracy and religion shorn of folderol, cant, and the stink of popes and kings.
—
Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025
The reformists included activists who overran the U.S. Embassy, supporters of the 1979 revolution that brought theocracy to power who had since found its religious rule heavy-handed and intrusive.
—Karl Vick, Time, 23 June 2025
No one’s shocked to see the dictatorships of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua lining up behind Iran’s repressive theocracy in its standoff with Israel.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
That sowed the seeds of 1979’s Islamic Revolution — and with it the anti-Western, repressive theocracy of Iran today.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for theocracy
Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025
The reformists included activists who overran the U.S. Embassy, supporters of the 1979 revolution that brought theocracy to power who had since found its religious rule heavy-handed and intrusive.
—Karl Vick, Time, 23 June 2025
No one’s shocked to see the dictatorships of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua lining up behind Iran’s repressive theocracy in its standoff with Israel.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
That sowed the seeds of 1979’s Islamic Revolution — and with it the anti-Western, repressive theocracy of Iran today.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for theocracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theocracy
Noun
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At a time when Germany still had a monarchy, the grandness of the Reichstag’s design was intended to rival any structure the monarchy would build for itself.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Sep. 2025
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The unrest is the worst in decades in the poor Himalayan country that is wedged between India and China and has struggled with political instability and economic uncertainty since protests led to the abolition of its monarchy in 2008.—
Gopal Sharma,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The simultaneous invasions by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union at the beginning of World War II in 1939 nearly led to the erasure of Poland, which went on to survive after the conflict as a Soviet satellite state until transitioning to democracy in 1989 and joining NATO a decade later.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Slattery sees the relevance of telling the story now, especially as the world contends with new threats to democracy.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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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Hence, the Hollow Knight is starting to crack, and is leaking Radiance all over the place, which is why the bugs of the kingdom have lost their minds.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Over the past two decades the kingdom has largely been ruled by the Shinawatras or their proxies, or the military.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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No, a dictatorship is not the same as democracy.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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First, the Chavist regime of Nicolás Maduro is not operating like a real state or even a classic dictatorship.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Fifth Republic, founded by President de Gaulle in 1958, was designed to end the chronic instability that had plagued France’s Third and Fourth republics earlier in the 20th century.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
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The Founders were part-time statesmen whose duty was to put the long-term interests of the fledgling republic ahead of personal interests.—
Les Rubin,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Theocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theocracy. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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