Authoritarian

/ɔːˌθɒɹ.ɪˈtɛə̯.ɹɪən/ · adjective

Meaning

Of, or relating to, or exhibiting strict obedience to an authority; favoring authoritarianism over civic and individual liberties..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of, or relating to, or exhibiting strict obedience to an authority; favoring authoritarianism over civic and individual liberties.
2. Demanding obedience to authority; marked by authoritarianism; dictatorial, tyrannical.
3. Tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one were an authority.
4. One who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.
5. One who follows and is excessively obedient to authority.

Example Sentences

the authoritarian personality

The authoritarian government was demanding stricter laws for low-wage peasants.

Una rivoluzione è certamente la cosa più autoritaria che ci sia: è l'atto per il quale una parte della popolazione impone la sua volontà all'altra parte per mezzo di fucili, baionette e cannoni; mezzi autoritari, se ce ne sono; e il partito vittorioso, se non vuole aver combattuto invano, deve continuare questo dominio col terrore che le sue armi inspirano ai reazionari.

[…] (selling one’s personal activity under another’s direction and supervision encourages dependency and authoritarian relationships);[…]

It may be that precisely due to its weak nature, an authoritarian dictatorship needs rampant violence and lies to maintain its rule.

Wang Yi blatantly intimidates the world at the UNGA. He is a cheat and bully on the global stage in fundamental violation of the facts. Democratic countries should clearly recognize and unify against the challenge of authoritarian intervention. The Republic of China is a sovereign state. Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China in historical fact, international law, or reality.

Of course, in China everything is determined by the state. So many times, when I asked how China had managed to build this network so quickly, I was told that it was because the government had backed it. And, of course, there are fewer Nimbys in an authoritarian state.

But amid all the disruption and norm-breaking, it’s Mr. Trump’s apparently keen interest in shaping American culture that may be most intriguing. To critics, it’s nothing less than a sign of his authoritarian bent – reminiscent of the Stalin-esque playbook that made government diktats over artistic expression a feature of the old Soviet Union.

Synonyms for authoritarian

Antonyms for authoritarian

Related Words

Word Forms

• more authoritarian
• most authoritarian
• authoritarians

Usage Notes

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