dictator
noun
dic·ta·tor
ˈdik-ˌtā-tər 
dik-ˈtā-
1
a
: a person granted absolute emergency power
b
: one holding complete autocratic control : a person with unlimited governmental power
c
: one ruling in an absolute (see absolute sense 2) and often oppressive way
fascist dictators
2
: one who says or reads something for a person to transcribe or for a machine to record : one that dictates (see dictate entry 1 sense 1)
Examples of dictator in a Sentence
The country was ruled by a military dictator.
the dictator had a fierce stranglehold on the country, keeping its people in poverty and ignorance
Recent Examples on the Web
Xi was flanked by Putin and Kim, two brutal and aggressive dictators whom many nations would rather shun.
—
Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Cawthorn’s fascination with German dictator Adolf Hitler was well-documented on his social media accounts, and his opponents tried to use that against him in the general election.
—Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2025
The parade drew leaders from other countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Beijing sought to display its growing military power as Chinese President Xi Jinping was accompanied by North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
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Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Cawthorn’s fascination with German dictator Adolf Hitler was well-documented on his social media accounts, and his opponents tried to use that against him in the general election.
—Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2025
The parade drew leaders from other countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Beijing sought to display its growing military power as Chinese President Xi Jinping was accompanied by North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictator
Cite this Entry
“Dictator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictator. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictator
noun
dic·ta·tor
ˈdik-ˌtāt-ər
dik-ˈtāt-ər
1
: a person who rules with total authority and often in a cruel or brutal manner
2
: one that dictates
dictatorial
adjective
ˌdik-tə-ˈtōr-ē-əl
-tȯr-
dictatorially
adverb
-ē-ə-lē
dictatorialness
noun
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