as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
warned that forfeiture of civil liberties for the sake of security would only result in the terror of totalism
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Recent Examples of totalism
Common sense and a mania for systematization, logical thinking and ideological totalism, are constantly at war in the French character, as a belief in instant happiness and a paranoia about imaginary enemies are in the American.
—
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2022
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totalism
Noun
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First, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced the end of vaccination requirements in his state, emphasizing the tyranny of basic public health.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
North Korea remains a close ally, rigidly committed to traditional communist tyranny.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Noun
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President Roosevelt also led the United States through the Second World War, mobilizing the Nation after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and serving as Commander-in-Chief throughout the Allied effort to defeat Nazism and fascism.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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The famous star of stage and screen was an outspoken opponent of fascism before World War II, devoting his time and money to relief groups aiding victims of Nazi Germany.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Leo has been emphasizing a message of hope for youths in Spain, a once overwhelmingly Catholic country that experienced a religious crisis after its 20th century dictatorship ended and democracy took root.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Portugal is a good example—after the dictatorship ended in 1974, there was a push to modernize, and many traditional crafts weren’t passed down.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Visual artist and historian Ranfis Suárez Ramos highlighted the importance of internet access for Cubans as a way to break the hold of totalitarianism.—
Sarah Moreno
June 5,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
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His parents’ experience living under totalitarianism shaped his outlook on the world.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
In fact, that kind of absolutism is a good way to become part of another kind of silencing, another kind of injustice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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The result is the extreme polarization and absolutism.—
Andrew Cuomo,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Similar charges were leveled against several other rival candidates ahead of the election, spurring accusations of authoritarianism and corruption against Pashinyan’s government.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
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The author became a prominent voice on exile, women's freedom and authoritarianism, frequently using her public platform to denounce repression in Iran.—
Hugo Lhomedet,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Totalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totalism. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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