variants
also autocratical
1
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of autocratic
Venezuela’s autocratic demagogue held a 2007 referendum to re-write the Constitution.
—
Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Some see the speculation over a third term as part of an ominous, autocratic push by the president.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025
But today, the most important political cleft is not the fading distinction between right and left, but the rising conflict between liberal and illiberal, democratic and autocratic.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
That episode aired when Vladimir Putin began his rise to autocratic power in Russia.
—Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Some see the speculation over a third term as part of an ominous, autocratic push by the president.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025
But today, the most important political cleft is not the fading distinction between right and left, but the rising conflict between liberal and illiberal, democratic and autocratic.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
That episode aired when Vladimir Putin began his rise to autocratic power in Russia.
—Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
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The Collector is also hoping these will satiate the growing wants of his oppressive overlord, The Forger (Roddy Ricch), who has mysterious motives of his own.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2025
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The current war in Sudan involves civil strife and shifting allegiances, in which one oppressive regime was toppled by a coalition, which then turned in on itself, leading to an even more vicious war.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Since taking office just a few weeks ago, President Trump has rapidly depleted the reservoir of America’s soft power with an authoritarian bent and astonishing speed.—
Penny Abeywardena,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Other writers and artists have also begun to mine this era for clues to China’s current authoritarian malaise.—
Ian Johnson,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But against Spain, the imperious combination that has been lacking for Wiegman’s side over the past 12 months returned.—
Michael Cox,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Wilson, a former university president with an imperious air, returned from Europe a hero.—
Dexter Filkins,
The New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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It was first created in 1942 specifically to serve as a foil to Axis disinformation and over the years became a beacon of hope to people living under all manner of totalitarian and despotic governments.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2025
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The notion that these companies were sovereign enclaves of pitilessly despotic geniuses is a myth of recent vintage.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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And the villains, of course, exuding every nastily relatable emotion; the stepmothers and sorceresses are vain, arrogant, dismissive, lonely, rude, and outrageous.—
Darren Franich,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The film, based on Georges Simenon’s 1950 novel, stars Depardieu as a celebrated but tyrannical actor grappling with personal and professional decline.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
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What is the character of those who bear false witness and favor Russia’s tyrannical lies over Ukrainians’ unalienable rights?—
Mark Sandy,
TIME,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Leadership is often associated with grand speeches, authoritative presence and a commanding voice.—
Mohammad Bahareth,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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There are lots of ways to be an authoritative parent, which can leave moms and dads (but mostly moms) feeling rudderless.—
Gail Cornwall,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The fine print on those behaviors includes inappropriate drama, being overly assertive, demanding, dictatorial, insecure, too focused on themselves and quick to react, just to name a few.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2025
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Don’t let your passion or ego be dictatorial in setting business and product parameters and goals.—
Martin Zwilling,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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