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
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Recent Examples of totalitarianism
This lively novel examines the compromises and complicity of artists working in the face of totalitarianism through a fictional retelling of the life of the Austrian film director G. W. Pabst.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
But, as Peck believes, Orwell has wrongly been interpreted as relevant only to an earlier time of Stalinist totalitarianism.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 May 2025
The four-part documentary series, released in April, features interviews with survivors of Soviet totalitarianism.
—Heather Hamilton, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2025
The skull is a thin barrier against totalitarianism.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totalitarianism
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
But, as Peck believes, Orwell has wrongly been interpreted as relevant only to an earlier time of Stalinist totalitarianism.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 May 2025
The four-part documentary series, released in April, features interviews with survivors of Soviet totalitarianism.
—Heather Hamilton, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2025
The skull is a thin barrier against totalitarianism.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totalitarianism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totalitarianism
Noun
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This position does not mean in any way ignoring four decades of mismanagement, corruption, oppression, tyranny and incompetence of the Islamic Republic.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
18 June 2025
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Ever since America’s founders decided that the best way to prevent tyranny was to diffuse power across branches of government, those branches of government have competed for authority.—
Jacob Turcotte,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 June 2025
Noun
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The New York Times selected it as a Notable Book of the Year in 1994, praising its examination of racial justice, climate collapse and fascism.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Eldest daughter Nancy wrote incisive comic and romantic novels about her social set—as well as a sendup of fascism, Wigs on the Green.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 June 2025
Noun
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But just as important to the Poles living under Soviet dictatorship were art books, fashion magazines, religious texts, lighthearted novels and regular newspapers.—
Valorie Castellanos Clark,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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Nearly 50 years into an unwanted dictatorship, Iranians have developed a refined capacity for identifying bad faith.—
Shervin Malekzadeh,
Mercury News,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Totalitarianism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totalitarianism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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