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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Recent Examples of authoritarianism
The Democratic Socialists of America describes it as a system that prioritizes the needs of ordinary people while rejecting authoritarianism.
—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
This revival finds new power in the intimate story of a family learning to love again set against one of the most consequential moments of the twentieth century, as the Nazi regime rises to power and authoritarianism encroaches on daily life.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
23 June 2026
Rent it on most major platforms Forbidden to enter the stadium, several Iranian women sneak in dressed as men to watch a World Cup qualifying match in the master director Jafar Panahi’s movie about everyday defiance under authoritarianism.
—
Carlos Aguilar,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 June 2026
The handmaids’ crimson robes evolved into protest iconography around the world because the story captured fears about authoritarianism and gender more viscerally than overt political messaging ever could.
—
Marc Adelman,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Over the past 50 years, summits have led to promotion of free trade, cooperation in combating infectious diseases and a concerted, effective counter to authoritarianism around the world.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Other World Cup tournaments were far from flawless, from the authoritarianism of Russia in 2018 and the human rights concerns of Qatar in 2022, right back to the tournaments held under Mussolini’s Italy in 1934 and Argentina’s junta in 1978.
—
Abigail Williams,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
Similar charges were leveled against several other rival candidates ahead of the election, spurring accusations of authoritarianism and corruption against Pashinyan’s government.
—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
The author became a prominent voice on exile, women's freedom and authoritarianism, frequently using her public platform to denounce repression in Iran.
—
Hugo Lhomedet,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
This revival finds new power in the intimate story of a family learning to love again set against one of the most consequential moments of the twentieth century, as the Nazi regime rises to power and authoritarianism encroaches on daily life.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
23 June 2026
Rent it on most major platforms Forbidden to enter the stadium, several Iranian women sneak in dressed as men to watch a World Cup qualifying match in the master director Jafar Panahi’s movie about everyday defiance under authoritarianism.
—
Carlos Aguilar,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 June 2026
The handmaids’ crimson robes evolved into protest iconography around the world because the story captured fears about authoritarianism and gender more viscerally than overt political messaging ever could.
—
Marc Adelman,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Over the past 50 years, summits have led to promotion of free trade, cooperation in combating infectious diseases and a concerted, effective counter to authoritarianism around the world.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Other World Cup tournaments were far from flawless, from the authoritarianism of Russia in 2018 and the human rights concerns of Qatar in 2022, right back to the tournaments held under Mussolini’s Italy in 1934 and Argentina’s junta in 1978.
—
Abigail Williams,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
Similar charges were leveled against several other rival candidates ahead of the election, spurring accusations of authoritarianism and corruption against Pashinyan’s government.
—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
The author became a prominent voice on exile, women's freedom and authoritarianism, frequently using her public platform to denounce repression in Iran.
—
Hugo Lhomedet,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritarianism
Noun
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For every Founding Father looking to free the colonies from British tyranny, there was a Larry (often called Lawrence here) who suggests that sharing desserts and umbrellas should be prohibited by the Declaration of Independence.
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In Shiite communities, Ashoura is viewed as a symbol of struggle against injustice and tyranny.
Noun
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His story stretches beyond sports, touching one of Haiti’s many mysteries of Haiti’s brutal Duvalier dictatorship and reflecting on the outsize role Haitians have long played in shaping American history.
-
Virtually all contemporary dictatorships are cosplay democracies with term limits, elections, and legislatures—the few ruling, as Amos Perlmutter put it, in the name of the many.
Noun
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This book keeps my feet on the ground and my heart connected to the greater pulse suffering under late-stage capitalism and fascism.
-
Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real.
Noun
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In spite of their original values of humanitarianism and neutrality, these organizations have been morally debased from within, using the language of human rights and international justice yet deploying it on behalf of autocracies and against the liberal democracies that created them.
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The good ones who are trying to carefully transition a country from democracy to autocracy don't do it overnight.
Noun
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Visual artist and historian Ranfis Suárez Ramos highlighted the importance of internet access for Cubans as a way to break the hold of totalitarianism.
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His parents’ experience living under totalitarianism shaped his outlook on the world.
Noun
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The nation which will not adopt an equilibrium of power must adopt a despotism.
-
His dream was nothing less than a new reality, a hopeful future free of despotism, ruled by equality and liberty, rather than kings and queens.
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarianism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritarianism. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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