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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as in authoritarian
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of totalitarian
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Ortega modeled his revolution on Cuba, which by then had clearly become a totalitarian basket case.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
Orwell famously wrote the book as a response to the dangers of totalitarian rule, particularly the Russian Revolution in 1917.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Ortega modeled his revolution on Cuba, which by then had clearly become a totalitarian basket case.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 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
Adjective
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Beyond its pleasures as a noir, the chronicle of Kolechko’s fight against nascent Soviet power easily reminds one of present-day Ukraine’s struggle to preserve its dignity in the face of oppressive forces.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
But the sweltering, sticky, oppressive facepalm of summer doesn’t make the other seasons more palatable.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Yet this year so far has been a dicey one for the Russian authoritarian.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
15 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
Noun
-
The game is a playground for Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern potentates, and Latin American strongmen—his people.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Biden put this sentiment into action by working with Netanyahu despite serious moral and political failures in Gaza, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on NATO expansion, and with Gulf potentates on the region’s security architecture.—
James Jeffrey,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Administration’s cowboy capture of the Venezuelan autocrat Nicolás Maduro, on January 3rd, prompted an airspace closure in the Caribbean, stranding many populations, none as humbled as the American tourists, gone to the islands for rest and relaxation over the winter holiday.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, Turner maintained a friendly rapport with the late Cuban autocrat Fidel Castro.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Bolstered by his military campaign in Morocco, Franco went on to lead Nationalist forces to victory in the Spanish Civil War, followed by a near 40-year rule as dictator.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
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The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969 — ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Noun
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And while Cathy has always been a famous beauty, Pugh is looking almost unreasonably chic as the arguable tyrant/Satan analog.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
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To add to the second-hand embarrassment, a gaudy amusement park proves a vital part of Homelander’s plan—after all, fascists and tyrants tend to have bad taste.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Totalitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totalitarian. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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