authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 
ə-,
-ˌthär-
1
: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people
an authoritarian regime
authoritarian
noun
Examples of authoritarian in a Sentence
grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world
an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, the country moves into an authoritarian state and Josh's family faces the ramifications.
—
Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
But any agreement reached will be just one touchstone in a thorny and volatile great power rivalry between the world’s superpower democracy and an authoritarian China, whose growing military assertiveness under Xi in the East and South China Seas is rattling US allies in the region.
—Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
In 2001, then-President Bill Clinton brought China into the World Trade Organization to encourage a liberal turn in Beijing, but instead fast-tracked the rise of a rigidly authoritarian economic rival.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Though Ellen thought her sentiments were fringe, Liz has published a book called The Change, which advocates for a single party system of government that purports to unite everyone, but is in fact authoritarian.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
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Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
But any agreement reached will be just one touchstone in a thorny and volatile great power rivalry between the world’s superpower democracy and an authoritarian China, whose growing military assertiveness under Xi in the East and South China Seas is rattling US allies in the region.
—Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
In 2001, then-President Bill Clinton brought China into the World Trade Organization to encourage a liberal turn in Beijing, but instead fast-tracked the rise of a rigidly authoritarian economic rival.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Though Ellen thought her sentiments were fringe, Liz has published a book called The Change, which advocates for a single party system of government that purports to unite everyone, but is in fact authoritarian.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritarian
Cite this Entry
“Authoritarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritarian. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authoritarian
adjective
au·thor·i·tar·i·an
ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən
ə-,
-ˌthȯr-
1
: expecting strict obedience to one's authority
had authoritarian parents
2
: based on the principle that the leaders and not the people have the final authority
an authoritarian state
authoritarian
noun
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