as in tyranny
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
the Magna Carta is historically important because it signified the British rejection of autocracy and constituted the first formal restraining of the power of the monarch
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Recent Examples of autocracy
Democracies, accordingly, spend more on health than autocracies do, and are likely to preserve access to care even when the economy tanks.
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Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
But Tunisians will have little recourse after Kais Saied’s near-certain—and certainly illegitimate—reelection this October entrenches Tunisia’s autocracy and marks the definitive end of the Arab Spring’s last surviving democratic experiment.
—Ian Bremmer, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
And once that happened, autocracy would seem as natural as the forest.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
On average, nations that transitioned from autocracy to democracy saw near-immediate improvements—within a decade, life expectancy increased by more than two years—and those which slid from democracy to autocracy experienced the opposite.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for autocracy 
Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
But Tunisians will have little recourse after Kais Saied’s near-certain—and certainly illegitimate—reelection this October entrenches Tunisia’s autocracy and marks the definitive end of the Arab Spring’s last surviving democratic experiment.
—Ian Bremmer, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
And once that happened, autocracy would seem as natural as the forest.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
On average, nations that transitioned from autocracy to democracy saw near-immediate improvements—within a decade, life expectancy increased by more than two years—and those which slid from democracy to autocracy experienced the opposite.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for autocracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocracy
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Chinese officials fear that Russia’s influence over the insular dictatorship is growing at China’s expense.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
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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
Noun
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Her lifestyle and perception of the world were not suited to depression, hunger, fascism, and war.Chadd Scott, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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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
Noun
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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
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Autocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocracy. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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