authoritarian
favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom: authoritarian principles; authoritarian attitudes.
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.
exercising complete or almost complete control over the will of another or of others: an authoritarian parent.
a person who favors or acts according to authoritarian principles.
Origin of authoritarian
1Other words from authoritarian
- au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism, noun
- an·ti·au·thor·i·tar·i·an, adjective
- an·ti·au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism, noun
- non·au·thor·i·tar·i·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use authoritarian in a sentence
The network is a flytrap for cranks, conspiracy theorists, anti-Semites, and defenders of authoritarianism.
Watch RT, Putin's TV Network, Call the Cops on Me | James Kirchick | March 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDissent against Erdogan has been simmering for a while because of his increased authoritarianism.
Authoritarianism And Backward Priorities There does not need to be a HealthCare.gov, and there need be no state-run websites.
Obamacare’s Rollout Is a Disaster That Didn’t Have to Happen | Gregory Ferenstein | October 20, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTHow cronyism, secrecy, and authoritarianism doomed Obamacare, and why it was all so unnecessary.
Obamacare’s Rollout Is a Disaster That Didn’t Have to Happen | Gregory Ferenstein | October 20, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhat about the middle way between authoritarianism and dictatorship?
The Politics of Literature: An interview with Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa | Michael Moynihan | October 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
He has to reverse the social current until it swings back to authoritarianism—with him riding the crest.
The Sensitive Man | Poul William AndersonThe tory and whig groups were known by their disagreement over the authoritarianism of the Crown.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed. | S. A. ReillyBoth tend to undermine social, political, and religious authoritarianism.
Benjamin Franklin | Frank Luther Mott
British Dictionary definitions for authoritarian
/ (ɔːˌθɒrɪˈtɛərɪən) /
favouring, denoting, or characterized by strict obedience to authority
favouring, denoting, or relating to government by a small elite with wide powers
despotic; dictatorial; domineering
a person who favours or practises authoritarian policies
Derived forms of authoritarian
- authoritarianism, noun
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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