as in tyrants
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance
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Recent Examples of dictators
But from the onset, the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere after the United States was beset by armed conflict, foreign interventions, repressive dictators, political violence, and heads of state whose personal ambitions and desire for power fanned instability and revolts.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
This was home to one of the most secretive dictators in the world, and now Syrians who were terrified to say anything about him are freely wandering around what was once his living room.
—Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 25 Jan. 2025
There is no climate change rationale for this, only the extortion of American taxpayers to pad the pockets of Third World dictators.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Among the few visiting dignitaries attending Maduro’s inauguration were the dictators of Cuba and Nicaragua, who sat in the front row at the swearing-in ceremony.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2025
In the end, dictators tap into something essential in human nature—the deference before a bully.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Like dictators, Johnny Rocco knew that angry demands can manifest power and thus create it.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
But the reality is that many of the elections were fake and that the world runneth over with dictators, authoritarians and their wannabes.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Jobs and inflation at home and authoritarian dictators abroad are the same, but times have changed.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
This was home to one of the most secretive dictators in the world, and now Syrians who were terrified to say anything about him are freely wandering around what was once his living room.
—Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 25 Jan. 2025
There is no climate change rationale for this, only the extortion of American taxpayers to pad the pockets of Third World dictators.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Among the few visiting dignitaries attending Maduro’s inauguration were the dictators of Cuba and Nicaragua, who sat in the front row at the swearing-in ceremony.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2025
In the end, dictators tap into something essential in human nature—the deference before a bully.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Like dictators, Johnny Rocco knew that angry demands can manifest power and thus create it.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
But the reality is that many of the elections were fake and that the world runneth over with dictators, authoritarians and their wannabes.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Jobs and inflation at home and authoritarian dictators abroad are the same, but times have changed.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictators. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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