Dictator

/dɪkˈteɪtə/ · noun

Meaning

A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government..

Definitions by Sense

1. A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
2. (history) A magistrate without colleague in republican Ancient Rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the Senate, typically to conduct a war.
3. A tyrannical boss or authority figure.
4. Misspelling of dictater.

Example Sentences

The Dominicans had lived for thirty years under the iron-fisted rule of dictator Leonidas Trujillo. During those years, which ended with Trujillo's assassination in 1961, those who opposed Trujillo had three choices: to go into exile, to go underground, or to remain quiet. Most Dominicans had chosen the third course.

Dictator, noun : someone who doesn't let American CEOs dictate how their country is run

"The reason why Xi Jinping got very upset in terms of when I shot that balloon down with two box cars full of spy equipment in it was he didn't know it was there," Biden said. "That's a great embarrassment for dictators. When they didn't know what happened. That wasn't supposed to be going where it was. It was blown off course," Biden said.

A monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin erected in Moscow's metro is stirring debate, with some Russians welcoming it as a historical tribute, but others saying it's a mistake to commemorate someone who presided over so much suffering.

Synonyms for dictator

Antonyms for dictator

Related Words

Word Forms

• dictators
• dictatour

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions