Stalin

American  

[stah-lin, -leen, stal-in, stah-lyin] / ˈstɑ lɪn, -lin, ˈstæl ɪn, ˈstɑ ljɪn /

noun

1. Joseph V. Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili or Dzugashvili, 1879–1953, Soviet political leader: secretary general of the Communist Party 1922–53; premier of the U.S.S.R. 1941–53.

2. a former name of Donetsk.

3. former name of Varna.

4. former name of Braşov.

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Stalin ¹ British  

/ ˈstɑːlɪn /

noun

1. Also called: Stalino. a former name (from after the Revolution until 1961) of Donetsk

2. the former name (1950–61) of Braşov

3. the former name (1949–56) of Varna

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Stalin ² British  

/ ˈstɑːlɪn /

noun

1. Joseph . original name Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili . 1879–1953, Soviet leader; general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922–53). He succeeded Lenin as head of the party and created a totalitarian state, crushing all opposition, esp in the great purges of 1934–37. He instigated rapid industrialization and the collectivization of agriculture and established the Soviet Union as a world power

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Stalin

He shadowboxes with ostriches and brings in celebrities like Rick Ross and Naomi Campbell for IBA events; he praises Stalin and rides private jets.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

He recalls how, during World War II, U.S. diplomat George Earle had proposed to President Roosevelt that America deny Stalin total control of Bulgaria.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

All of the risk stemmed from Hitler’s decision to break his nonaggression pact with Stalin and invade the western part of the U.S.S.R. in June 1941.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Even after the death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1953, the stigma attached to former PoWs did not disappear overnight.

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

Every night we’re expecting an extra communique from Stalin.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Related Words

• autocrat
• bully
• despot
• dictator
• oppressor