authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 
ə-,
-ˌthär-
1
: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people
an authoritarian regime
authoritarian
noun
Synonyms
Examples of authoritarian in a Sentence
grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world
an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp
Recent Examples on the Web
Serbia’s authoritarian leader should be riding high, lifted by economic growth that is four times the European average, falling unemployment and steadily rising wages.
—
Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
Trump’s decision will force many civil-society organizations in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and other Latin American authoritarian countries to shut down or drastically reduce their operations, leaders of some of these groups told me.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
Then, as is usual here, the cast contains a sprinkling of musical-theater aces: Greg Hildreth, a pro at welding smarm and actual charm, strolls out as our narrator, the cheerily authoritarian Office Lockstock.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Amid the authoritarian typhoon of Donald Trump’s first month in office, the Democratic Party is attempting to position itself as the front line of anti-MAGA resistance.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 7 Feb. 2025
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Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
Trump’s decision will force many civil-society organizations in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and other Latin American authoritarian countries to shut down or drastically reduce their operations, leaders of some of these groups told me.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
Then, as is usual here, the cast contains a sprinkling of musical-theater aces: Greg Hildreth, a pro at welding smarm and actual charm, strolls out as our narrator, the cheerily authoritarian Office Lockstock.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Amid the authoritarian typhoon of Donald Trump’s first month in office, the Democratic Party is attempting to position itself as the front line of anti-MAGA resistance.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for authoritarian
Dictionary Entries Near authoritarian
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritarian. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən
ə-,
-ˌthȯr-
1
: expecting strict obedience to one's authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: based on the principle that the leaders and not the people have the final authority
an authoritarian state
authoritarian
noun
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