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View synonyms for

authoritarian

[ uh-thawr-i-tair-ee-uhn, uh-thor- ]

adjective

  1. favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom:

    authoritarian principles; authoritarian attitudes.

  2. of or relating to a governmental or political system, principle, or practice in which individual freedom is held as completely subordinate to the power or authority of the state, centered either in one person or a small group that is not constitutionally accountable to the people.
  3. exercising complete or almost complete control over the will of another or of others:

    an authoritarian parent.



noun

  1. a person who favors or acts according to authoritarian principles.

authoritarian

/ ɔːˌθɒɪˈɛəɪə /

adjective

  1. favouring, denoting, or characterized by strict obedience to authority
  2. favouring, denoting, or relating to government by a small elite with wide powers
  3. despotic; dictatorial; domineering
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a person who favours or practises authoritarian policies
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌٳǰˈٲԾ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ٳǰi·ٲi·· noun
  • t··ٳǰi·ٲi· adjective
  • anti··ٳǰi·ٲi·· noun
  • ԴDza·ٳǰi·ٲi· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of authoritarian1

First recorded in 1875–80; authorit(y) + -arian
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress, recently co-authored a lengthy report accusing Trump of “smashing constitutional and legal guardrails to build an authoritarian presidency.”

From

“This is just another scare tactic to get us to follow his authoritarian agenda — but it’s not going to work.”

From

But there remains some division within the party about whether they should spend their time hammering Trump and his accomplices on their authoritarian takeover or concentrate on the perennial "kitchen table issues."

From

Trump and Musk’s all-out assault on “diversity, equality and inclusion” in government and education are borne of the same regimented, authoritarian monoculture that ultimately weakens a robust multicultural society.

From

It should invite the Freedom of the Press Foundation, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters without Borders to highlight the growing problem of press suppression from authoritarians across the planet.

From

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