variants
also autocratical
1
as in oppressive
exercising power or authority without interference by others
democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of autocratic
Advertisement And autocratic governments are anticipating a far more transactional relationship with Washington, unburdened by diplomatic discourse about human rights or the rule of law.
—
Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Kraft likes taking big swings, but after tiring of Belichick’s autocratic approach, his priority for the 2024 season was simply regaining control of his franchise.
—Mike Sando, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
The Assad dynasty’s autocratic rule in Syria was marked by decades of fighting, bloodshed and oppressive political crackdown.
—Eyad Kourdi, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Vucevic stepped down following weeks of demonstrations generated by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy, which reflected discontent at the increasingly autocratic rule of President Aleksandar Vučić.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for autocratic 
Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Kraft likes taking big swings, but after tiring of Belichick’s autocratic approach, his priority for the 2024 season was simply regaining control of his franchise.
—Mike Sando, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
The Assad dynasty’s autocratic rule in Syria was marked by decades of fighting, bloodshed and oppressive political crackdown.
—Eyad Kourdi, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Vucevic stepped down following weeks of demonstrations generated by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy, which reflected discontent at the increasingly autocratic rule of President Aleksandar Vučić.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for autocratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autocratic
Adjective
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Currently, asylum seekers who committed crimes seen as political in nature—i.e. toward an oppressive regime—could be granted asylum, as could those guilty of misdemeanors.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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But the show pulls back just enough on the oppressive horror vibes of Season Two without losing a perpetual sense of unease from those scenes.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Llewellyn’s starting point for the makeup design was initial illustrations by Phillips and Reed’s color choices in order to do something with the makeup that drew more focus to Yeoh’s imperious performance, but always in complementary colors.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
31 Jan. 2025
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Slot’s team drew at Nottingham Forest and, on the weekend, 90 goalless minutes had passed at Brentford with a feeling that the imperious phase was finally at an end.—
Darren Richman,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Trump of the first half of the movie might surprise viewers used to the 2025 version: an outer-borough scion, ambitious but unsure, who bristles under his despotic father, aspires to greater recognition and bets big on the revival of Midtown Manhattan during its 1970s nadir.—
Marc Tracy,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
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Guaranteeing the people’s right to bear arms, both through state militias and as individuals, would serve as deterrence against federal leaders with despotic aspirations.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Saxon, for instance, is filling the same spoiled, arrogant space as Jake Lacy’s Shane from Season One.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
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From director James Ashcroft (Coming Home in the Dark), who co-wrote the script with Eli Kent, The Rule of Jenny Pen centers on arrogant judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush), who has to live in a retirement home after a near-fatal stroke leaves him partially paralyzed.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The forthcoming Sunrise on the Reaping follows Collins' fourth book The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which explored the early world of Coriolanus Snow — who later went on to become the infamous, tyrannical president of Panem.—
Staff Author,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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King Saran Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) will portray the tyrannical king who is also Amari and Inan's father.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Vancouver had an authoritative control of shots and scoring chances but fell 3-2 in overtime.—
Harman Dayal,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
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The Celtics’ regulars then scuffled through the final 12 minutes, keeping the Bulls at arm’s length but not delivering any sort of authoritative knockout blow.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Though Yoon rescinded the decree after just six hours, the martial law imposition was the first of its kind in South Korea in more than 40 years and evoked painful memories of past dictatorial rules in the 1960s-80s.—
Danielle Wallace,
Fox News,
26 Jan. 2025
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World Gone, the Assads Jay Nordlinger On the rise and fall of Syria’s dictatorial dynasty.—
Daniel Foster,
National Review,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near autocratic
Cite this Entry
“Autocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autocratic. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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