authoritarianism

noun

Definition of authoritarianismnext
as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power a critical period that saw a number of third-world countries abandon authoritarianism for democracy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarianism
  1. tyranny
  2. dictatorship
  3. fascism
  4. autocracy
  5. totalitarianism
  6. despotism
Noun
  • It's mainly made up of former and current law enforcement, former and current military, and these people see themselves as the last line of defense against government tyranny.
    Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Finally, Gibney breaks away from nonstop Sopranos worship for secondhand memories of Gandolfini’s personal struggles on the series — the mixture of pressure and addiction — and Chase’s transition into some level of occasional tyranny.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2024
Definition of tyranny
Noun
  • Chinese officials fear that Russia’s influence over the insular dictatorship is growing at China’s expense.
    Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Unfolding against the backdrop of Argentina’s military dictatorship, Our Share of Night features a once-in-a-generation medium able to channel a dark force that warps his body and offers untold and dangerous power.
    Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of dictatorship
Noun
  • Her lifestyle and perception of the world were not suited to depression, hunger, fascism, and war.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
  • In recent years, the Morning Joe hosts have been harsh critics of Trump, comparing his rise to that of fascism.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
Definition of fascism
Noun
  • As its divisions with Washington have deepened, Beijing has ramped up efforts to challenge US global leadership and shape an international order into one that favors China and other autocracies.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
  • Applebaum argues that Western democracies must reckon with their complicity in the spread of kleptocratic autocracy through offshore banking, money laundering, business deals, and ideological support from right-wing fellow travelers.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Oct. 2024
Definition of autocracy
Noun
  • Mann understood the appeal of totalitarianism early on.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
  • In 1984, Apple released a TV ad suggesting that its new Macintosh would topple Orwellian totalitarianism.
    Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of totalitarianism
Noun
  • Although Adolf Hitler met his road to perdition, Joseph Stalin survived and extended his despotism.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2024
  • His thug military’s attacks — and those of his thug street enforcers known as colectivos — on Venezuelans who’ve taken to the streets to protest his Gómez-ish despotism?
    Tim Padgett, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
Definition of despotism
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near authoritarianism

authoritarian

authoritarianism

authoritarians

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Cite this Entry

“Authoritarianism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarianism. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on authoritarianism

Nglish: Translation of authoritarianism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of authoritarianism for Arabic Speakers

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