as in ruler
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
European autocrats once commonly believed that they had received the right to rule directly from God
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Recent Examples of autocrat
Both would be peace efforts – but Trump is well known to praise these autocrats.
—
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Most of the countries represented at the summit were represented by autocrats of one or other description—such as Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Responses that, early on, can feel pragmatic—waiting it out, remaining silent, cutting a deal—only embolden autocrats, leading ultimately to the demise of democracy itself.
—Daniel Ziblatt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump’s relationship with Putin in the spotlight Trump has had a famously warm relationship with Putin over the years, often praising the Russian autocrat.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocrat
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Most of the countries represented at the summit were represented by autocrats of one or other description—such as Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Responses that, early on, can feel pragmatic—waiting it out, remaining silent, cutting a deal—only embolden autocrats, leading ultimately to the demise of democracy itself.
—Daniel Ziblatt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump’s relationship with Putin in the spotlight Trump has had a famously warm relationship with Putin over the years, often praising the Russian autocrat.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autocrat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocrat
Noun
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The cut was not only Bieber’s first to start in first place, but — amazingly — his first ruler on the most competitive songs ranking in America.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The following year, Jenna Ortega wore a Balmain creation made from silver tailoring tape and metallic rulers, an avant-garde nod to the artistry of couture construction.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The White House couple will be greeted by the British monarch and his wife, with royal gun salutes fired at the castle and at the Tower of London.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
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It has been inhabited and altered by monarchs for centuries.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autocrat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocrat. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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