Synonyms of totalitarianism

totalitarianism

noun

(ˌ)tō-ˌta-lə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

as in tyranny

a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power

in times of crisis, when a nation's people are frightened, there are often calls for totalitarianism

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tyranny
• fascism
• dictatorship
• Communism
• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• despotism
• absolutism
• totalism
• monarchy
• Caesarism
• autarchy
• oppression
• Nazism
• czarism
• domination
• monarchism
• monocracy
• Big Brother
• Big Brotherism

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• democracy
• freedom
• self-government
• self-rule
• self-governance
• autonomy
• sovereignty
• self-determination

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of totalitarianism

Unconstitutional federal totalitarianism results in 54 million man-years each year of tax slavery, exponentiating $40 trillion in national debt, and behemoth corrupt federal socialism. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 5 May 2026

Another totalitarianism, so recently an ally, was already on the march. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026

The standards for the totalitarianism course between the Walters’ 2025 version and the 2026 version are identical, and the standards of the Ancient and Medieval World History course are similar, but leave several items out. — Beth Wallis, StateImpact, 24 Apr. 2026

While the Russian government has taken steps in the past to acknowledge the culpability of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and his regime, some Russian-language commentators see the display as a massive step back toward denying the crimes of totalitarianism. — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026