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
Lucy Ford, Time, 27 Dec. 2025
At the highest levels of such control, authoritarian states become totalitarian.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
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
While The Handmaid’s Tale followed the women whose lives were upended by the enshrinement of totalitarian fascism, forcing them to become baby-making slaves, The Testaments is a coming-of-age story of girls whose only understanding of life is the grim reality of Gilead.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 27 Dec. 2025
At the highest levels of such control, authoritarian states become totalitarian.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
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
-
The proud and courageous Iranian people are rising up against the tyrannical, despotic and oppressive regime that imposed its vicious rule in 1979 and has governed by fear and murder ever since.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Their writing focuses on identity and the intersections of mental health and oppressive systems.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Maduro, an authoritarian, has led Venezuela since 2013, succeeding an ideological ally, Hugo Chávez, who had been in office since 1999.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Not your grandma’s authoritarians Today’s authoritarian rulers realize that civil society has the potential to support democracy and pry loose their grip on power.—
Christopher Justin Einolf,
The Conversation,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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Why don’t all the rich potentates, sheiks, oligarchs and MAGA dictators meet and fix it?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Maduro was an autocrat with weak popular backing whose departure has certainly been welcomed by many of Venezuela’s citizens and celebrated by a vibrant diaspora.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
5 Jan. 2026
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Maduro ruled Venezuela's 28 million people as an autocrat, imprisoning his opposition and leaving the economy of an oil rich nation in shambles.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But, as had happened so often in the history of brittle regimes, the dictator’s gesture of conciliation was read as desperation.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Mainly for the money Among the fraternity of dictators such revenue streams have now gone mainstream.—
Max Hastings,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But for so many Venezuelans, the sight of Maduro in shackles was about a tyrant facing justice.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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Now Matt is in Nick Fury mode, assembling his own team capable of overthrowing this tyrant — hence the arrival of Ritter's wise-ass strongwoman sleuth who can drink all of Manhattan under the table.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totalitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totalitarian. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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