totalitarian 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of totalitariannext
as in oppressive
controlling the people of a country in a very strict way with complete power that cannot be opposed A totalitarian state that did not even allow outsiders to visit.

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totalitarian

2 of 2

noun

as in authoritarian

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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 totalitarian
Adjective
The president’s controversial response to the article seemed to take aim at the column’s calls for order and authority, which Petro appeared to compare to the totalitarian regime under Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. — Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026 The new Hulu spin-off follows the teen girls of Gilead, who grow up with a far different view of the totalitarian regime than the Handmaids. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 27 May 2026
Noun
And there’s another reason why totalitarians capable of horrific human rights violations are a real hosting nightmare. — Sarah Todd, Quartz, 27 Dec. 2019 Some of his most popular works were surrealistic fantasies set in grisly worlds run by totalitarians and conformists. — Fox News, 28 June 2018 See All Example Sentences for totalitarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totalitarian
  1. oppressive
  2. authoritarian
  3. potentate
  4. autocrat
  5. dictator
  6. tyrant
Adjective
  • The trope, fair or not, has often overshadowed the fact that science fiction and horror are absolutely perfect bedfellows, with outer space's total isolation, tiny quarters, and oppressive vastness perfectly suited for the horror genre.
    — Matthew Razak, Space.com, 26 July 2026
  • Crews are working nonstop to meet Mayor Karen Bass’ mid-August deadline to clear out 85 million pounds of food that continues to rot in oppressive heat.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of oppressive
Noun
  • Yet this year so far has been a dicey one for the Russian authoritarian.
    — Daniel DePetris, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
  • If calling a politician an aspiring authoritarian is tantamount to inciting their murder, then doing so is irresponsible even if the charge is true.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Noun
  • With 775 rooms, the palace also provides office space for the royal bureaucracy and hosts lavish state dinners for visiting presidents and potentates.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • The game is a playground for Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern potentates, and Latin American strongmen—his people.
    — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2026
Definition of potentate
Noun
  • But with April’s decisive popular vote against longtime autocrat Viktor Orbán, Hungary now signals hope for democratic renewal and recovery.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026
  • Typically reserved for autocrats and crime bosses, sanctions can be devastating.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of autocrat
Noun
  • Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who had severed ties with Israel, was a supporter of the Palestinian independence cause.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Korea’s unfunny dictator responded by nuking the studio’s tech apparatus, thus disclosing its financial secrets.
    — Peter Bart, Deadline, 30 July 2026
Definition of dictator
Noun
  • However, his team describes Fred as a tyrant, who is uncaring and belligerent and micro-manages everything.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • In his fullest public argument yet about his thinking, Thiel and co-author Sam Wolfe write the figure of ultimate evil is best understood not as a monster or a tyrant but as a technocrat.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Definition of tyrant

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totalism
totalitarian
totalitarianism
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Cite this Entry

“Totalitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totalitarian. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of totalitarian for Spanish Speakers

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