authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 
É™-,
-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
Yoon’s order faced fierce backlash from the public and lawmakers across the political spectrum, reviving painful memories of the country’s authoritarian past.
—
Gawon Bae, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
Yes, dollars circulated in authoritarian, murderous Syria because market goods did.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Wannabe authoritarian Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served longer than any Israeli premier, wants more time.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Effective collaboration can give liberal democracies a significant advantage over more closed, authoritarian countries.
—Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for authoritarian 
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Gawon Bae, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
Yes, dollars circulated in authoritarian, murderous Syria because market goods did.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Wannabe authoritarian Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served longer than any Israeli premier, wants more time.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Effective collaboration can give liberal democracies a significant advantage over more closed, authoritarian countries.
—Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 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 24 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən
É™-,
-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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