1
as in arbitrary
exercising power or authority without interference by others
a dictatorial leader with total control over people's lives
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
no surprise that the dictatorial manager is highly unpopular among employees
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3
as in arrogant
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
even the teachers chafed under the dictatorial rule of the principal
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Recent Examples of dictatorial
When someone has high drive and integrity that are not balanced by other character dimensions, these strengths can become dictatorial, forceful, uncompromising, belligerent, rigid, and dogmatic, among others.
—
Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Unlike Joseph Stalin, Putin has not maximized the state’s dictatorial potential.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2025
The Big Beautiful Bill is supposed to revitalize our economy, but the president who asked for it is destroying that economy with his erratic, uninformed and ill-judged dictatorial outbursts.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
Like all dictatorial regimes, the survival of the system and the maintenance of power is the Iranian government’s priority.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorial
Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Unlike Joseph Stalin, Putin has not maximized the state’s dictatorial potential.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2025
The Big Beautiful Bill is supposed to revitalize our economy, but the president who asked for it is destroying that economy with his erratic, uninformed and ill-judged dictatorial outbursts.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
Like all dictatorial regimes, the survival of the system and the maintenance of power is the Iranian government’s priority.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictatorial
Adjective
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And part of that structure is ensuring that the IRS consistently enforces the code without imposing arbitrary changes on certain taxpayers.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Both sides have also carried out arbitrary detentions, with SAF interrogating and beating dozens of Christians in 2024 and 2025.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This then begs the question, If there was a majority of Koreans who wanted social democratic style reforms, and their aspirations had the support of American and Korean reformers in the military government, why did South Korea end up with an authoritarian regime led by Syngman Rhee?—
Kornel Chang
September 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
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Paine, of course, marshalled the phrase in service of a radical anti-authoritarian movement.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Zane played the arrogant Cal Hockley, who was engaged to Jack's love interest, Rose (played by Kate Winslet).—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Despite international aid groups withdrawing from Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s oppressive regime and its persecution of women and girls, the Reynolds chose to remain.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
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Hurricane season and summer humidity can be oppressive.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Managers often grow more assertive (sometimes drifting into domineering).—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Also in the cast: Emmy winner Laurie Metcalfe, as Augusta Gein, the murderer's religious, domineering mother; Tom Hollander as director Alfred Hitchcock; Olivia Williams as the filmmaker's wife, Alma Reville Hitchcock; and Lesley Manville, as Gein's second murder victim, Bernice Worden.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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To One Piece fans, the flag symbolizes Luffy’s quest to chase his dreams, liberate oppressed people, and fight the autocratic World Government.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
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In fact, the choice Koreans faced at the end of 1948, between a one-party communist state and an autocratic liberalism, was between two options that had very little support at the beginning of the occupation.—
Kornel Chang
September 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This is how legal systems in despotic regimes operate.—
Andrew Binns,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Academy rules work for countries with democratic governments but not for countries with despotic regimes.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The citizens of Venezuela don't deserve to live under the tyrannical rule of Maduro or any of his henchmen!—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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Watch The Lost Daughter on Netflix The King Prince Hal (Timothée Chalamet), the heir to the English throne, wants nothing to do with royal life and is living among commoners when his tyrannical father dies.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictatorial. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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