Orwellian

[ awr-wel-ee-uhn ]

/ ɔrˈwɛl i ən /

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adjective

of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or resembling the literary work of George Orwell or the totalitarian future described in his antiutopian novel 1984 (1949).

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Origin of Orwellian

1945–50; after G. Orwell + -ian

Words nearby Orwellian

ORV, Orvieto, Orville, Orwell, Orwell, George, Orwellian, or what, or whatever, -ory, Oryol, oryx

How to use Orwellian in a sentence

In the same speech where DeSantis derided “Orwellian” tactics around voting rights during last week’s State of the State address, he announced this new law enforcement unit that would have the “sole focus” of enforcing election law.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Wants A New Police Force With The Power To Arrest Voters|Malaika Jabali|January 18, 2022|Essence.com
Despite prominent voices on the right giving vaccine mandates labels such as “Orwellian,” they are actually pretty popular among the American public.
Americans Are In Favor Of Vaccine Mandates. But Support Is Driven Mainly By Those Who Have Already Gotten The Jab.|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 6, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
The ghost of George Orwell may be conjured too readily and too often, these days, but this truly is Orwellian.
The Kremlin’s Plan to Erase Russia’s Memory and Its Conscience|Anna Nemtsova|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Orwellian, Malthusian, barbarous, depraved…I think you get me.
Conservatives Find Typo in Obamacare, Try to Kill People With It|Michael Tomasky|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

There has been an almost Orwellian artfulness in the way need-blind admissions policies are sold.
Did Needs-Blind Admission Create the College Debt Crisis?|John McWhorter|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But while another bureaucracy may not be the answer (even the name sounds Orwellian), oversight is clearly needed.
They Want to Know Everything About You|Jake Whitney|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Venezuelans are accustomed to their government using Orwellian language.
Is This the End of Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela?|Juan Nagel|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No one called them “attractions” anymore—all that old Orwellian Disneyspeak had been abolished.
Makers|Cory Doctorow